Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2021 i Australian Women’s Weekly NZ

It was big, round, blue, plasticky and for the first few years of my life in suburban Lower Hutt, it was my happy place – hands up who remembers the Para pool! My parents built it in the backyard of our red brick and stucco home, and by the time I was a toddler, I could throw myself off the surrounding deck into the water, making it to the other side by propelling myself underwater. Mum and Dad believed one of the greatest life skills they could give me was the ability to swim, and you could say I took to it like the proverbial duck. I don’t ever remember finding swimming hard compared to my friends. While others complained about the chlorine and the cold at school swimming sports,…

Beloved Australian actress Lorrae Desmond has been remembered for her grace and enormous heart, following her death in May at age 91. Many fondly recall Lorrae as nurse Shirley Gilroy in 1980s series A Country Practice, but the Mittagongborn actress had already starred in many BBC series, and represented the UK at Eurovision, by the time she headed to Wandin Valley. Lorrae moved to Britain as a child, where she began her TV career. When she returned to Australia, Lorrae hosted her own variety show and became the first woman to win the equivalent of a Gold Logie Award.…

Great expectations Aussie actress Miranda Tapsell revealed she and her husband, James Colley, are expecting their first baby later this year. Model mum Naomi Campbell, 51, recently welcomed a daughter, saying, “A beautiful little blessing has chosen me to be her mother.” A baby for Beatrice Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi are expecting a spring baby, who will be a cousin to sister Eugenie’s little boy August.…

Officially it’s called the Olympic Games, but for the more than 11,000 athletes from over 200 countries who will take part in this year’s competition, it is the Stadium of Dreams. Medals will be won, records will be smashed, goals will be met and lives will be changed forever. For all taking part, this is what they work so hard for. This is the pinnacle of achievement for a sportsperson – representing their country on the world stage. It makes up for all the harsh sacrifices, punishing training regimes and time away from their loved ones. And this Olympics promises to be one like no other. Delayed for more than a year as Covid-19 ripped through the world, when the competition finally kicks off on July 23, and the Paralympic…

It’s a supreme irony that the little girl who fled to New Zealand from an abusive and tyrannous regime in Iran should now have to carry a panic alarm with her at all times due to the two active death threats she’s facing in this green and pleasant land. Sadly, this is the reality of Aotearoa in 2021. Golriz Ghahraman has packed more into her 39 years than most of us will do in a lifetime. The Green Party MP – New Zealand’s first refugee Member of Parliament – is spokesperson for the weighty portfolios of Justice, Human Rights and Electoral Reform. She is forthright, outspoken and courageous. Golriz has needed every ounce of that bravery as she withstands a barrage of vitriol while standing up for those who have…

Australian woman Rebekah Lawrence leapt to her death from an office window in Sydney after participating in an intense self-help course, which a coroner said was run by people “ill equipped” to know she needed intervention. Rebekah died two days after completing a four-day seminar run by self-development company People Knowhow. After the inquest, her husband, David Booth, said of the company: “They didn’t mean to do it. It’s just unqualified people doing damaging things to people’s minds.” Meanwhile, in Quebec a woman died after a nine-hour sweating session in which she was covered in mud, wrapped in plastic and blankets, and had a box placed around her head. Chantal Lavigne, 35, participated in a “Dying in Consciousness” seminar led by a self-proclaimed therapist. Elsewhere, teen wilderness retreats were the…

As women, we often mark life’s pivotal moments with hair changes. Let’s skip over the questionable haircuts of our 20s and fast-forward to the lush locks that come with pregnancy. My goodness, my hair was glorious. There was just so much of it. And then, in the aftermath, pillows covered in hair and a drain problem. Most women will also remember spotting that first silvery strand. Whether you were in your 30s or 50s, it’s another shift. Other changes include dullness, thinning and worsening frizz. “As you get older, hair can become brittle and take on a coarser texture,” says Giles Robinson, Color Wow’s global director of training and education. “You may also notice hair doesn’t look as shiny or healthy.” The answer, he says, is to adapt. And that’s…

You never know where a compliment will lead you as a journalist. Most recently, after commenting on my colleague Olivia’s new wavy ’do, she revealed that she’d joined a cult hair community on Facebook called “Curly Girl Method Australia & NZ” and was on a “hair journey”. This surprised me because I’d only seen her with smooth, poker-straight hair. “I’ve been desperately trying to flatten my curls for 13 years,” she admitted. “The problem is, I’ve never learnt how to take care of them.” Having always had hair that hung like spaghetti, I was intrigued. Don’t curls just happen? No. Olivia patiently explained that there are many things that get between a woman and her best, well-defined curls, from weather (humidity, in particular) to certain ingredients in shampoos and even…

Hippocrates gave us the heads up around 320BC when he said all disease begins in the gut. If only we’d taken his word for it. The good news is that science has caught up, and we now know that our gut microbiome – a term that describes the trillions of bacteria and microbes that live there – plays a crucial role in our health and sense of well-being. “The depth of the microbiota is hard to fathom,” says Will Bulsiewicz MD, a gastroenterologist and author of an excellent new book called Fiber Fueled. “The numbers are so astronomical … and it’s a wondrous magical community with amazing healing powers.” Even better, it’s possible to change the health of your gut with your next mouthful. In the dark Given the power…

Cider-braised chicken with apple, fennel & rosemary SERVES 4 PREP + COOK TIME 50 MINUTES 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil 4 chicken marylands 2 apples, each cut into 8 wedges 2 small fennel, cut into thin wedges, reserve fennel fronds 2 tablespoons maple syrup 2 cloves garlic, crushed 330ml bottle apple cider 2 tablespoons lemon juice 3 sprigs rosemary 200ml tub crème fraÎche 2 tablespoons seeded mustard crusty bread, to serve 1 Preheat oven to 220°C (200°C fan-forced). Heat oil in a large heavy-based flameproof pan over medium heat. Season the chicken with salt flakes and pepper and cook skin-side down for 5 minutes, or until golden. Turn and cook for a further 5 minutes; remove from pan. 2 Cook the apple and fennel in the same pan (in…

• If made ahead, the risoni will keep absorbing liquid. Add stock or water when reheating. • For a top-quality marinara mix, use: 200g peeled prawns, 150g baby octopus or cleaned calamari, 150g pipis, 200g black mussels and 200g fish. Anchovies add a quick burst of flavour to pasta dishes and, once fried in olive oil, don’t taste super fishy – just pleasantly savoury. It’s worth making a double batch of Minestrone to freeze in serving portions for a convenient lunch or dinner.…

Roast chicken SERVES 4 PREP + COOK TIME 2 HOURS 15 MINUTES 1.8kg whole chicken 75g butter, softened 1 clove garlic, crushed 2 teaspoons chopped fresh sage or tarragon 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme 1 medium lemon (140g), quartered 4 sprigs fresh thyme 3 cups (750ml) chicken stock 2 tablespoons plain flour 1 Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan-forced). 2 Remove excess fat from cavity of chicken. Rinse chicken inside and out with water; pat cavity and skin dry. Tuck wings under body. Place chicken on an oiled rack in a medium, flameproof roasting pan. 3 Combine butter, garlic and chopped herbs in a bowl. Run your fingers between the skin and breast meat. Spoon butter mixture under skin and push through skin to cover breast, tops of drumsticks and…

I’ve never been into plain painted walls. I like the idea of textured surfaces to create a bit of interest and I see that many high-end design projects often have feature walls that are outside the norm. What products are out there to help me achieve this look in a DIY-fashion? Resene FX Paint Effects medium can be used to build up an effortless texture on an area. Gently layer neutral hues such as Resene Shabby Chic, Resene Half Biscotti or Resene White Linen for a subtle and sophisticated approach. A more dramatic result can be achieved with specialised products such as Resene Sandtex for a more Mediterranean look. Roughly apply with a large brush in criss-cross motions for a natural and rustic organic feel. Another idea is to line…

British author Sarah Winman was born and raised in the eastern suburbs of London and trained and worked as an actor before she wrote her best-selling, award-winning debut novel When God Was A Rabbit 10 years ago. “I refer to myself as a storyteller rather than a novelist,” she tells The Weekly, adding that as a child “I wasn’t a big reader”, preferring to make up games. Still Life is her fourth novel. “I tend to see books in a very cinematic way. In many of my scenes I can visualise where the camera would be and what or who the lens would be focused on. I’ve especially employed that technique in Still Life,” she says.…

Ten Little Figs by Rhiân Williams, Walker A boy is sad when figs on his tree disappear … flying foxes and lorikeets love the fruit too! But daddy has plucked the last one for them to share. Introducing D’Lila La Rue by Nette Hilton, Walker D’Lila’s famous mum is “on the road again”, so she and Grandma are on their own. And you never know what adventures will happen with Nanny-Anny! Blue Flower by Sonya Hartnett, Penguin The kids at school all have something. “You are different. Something as wonderful as that,” says Mum. In a field of yellow flowers, the child spots one blue.…

The kid was dead. No doubt about that. The 911 caller thought so. The ER reported her DOA. The toxicologist showed cause. The ME signed the certificate. The kid was dead. That wasn’t the question. The phone rang. I ignored it. Beyond my window, the sky was a chaos of gunmetal, smoke, and green. The wind was blowing angrier by the second. I’d have to go soon. The palette on my screen mirrored the turmoil outside. Within the grey backdrop of flesh, the bones burned white as Arctic snow. I’d been analysing the X-rays for almost two hours, my frustration escalating with the storm. One last glance at the final plate in the series. The hands. Then it was adios. I forced myself to concentrate. Carpals. Metacarpals. Phalanges. Suddenly, I…

Cancer Jun 23-Jul 23 Happy birthday Crab crew! The sun and this year’s only Cancer new moon on July 10 are highlighting self-care, so it’s time to lavish that nurturing you give others onto numera una. This month’s emotional roller-coaster, a combined joyride and obstacle course, could see some stormy endings and scintillating beginnings. But with intuitive Mercury moving into your sign you’ll navigate July’s high tides with greater ease than most. As world-changing events ask you to step up rather than sidestepping, make sure you have plenty of support. And tune into the full moon on July 24 for guidance on a sensitive issue. Leo Jul 24-Aug 23 With King Mars and Queen Venus reigning together in Leo for its first three weeks, July’s spotlight shines on your majesties…

Planning A night out at the ballet. Alongside my failed swim career, I also dabbled in dance. I was bad. Really bad! But I love to watch those who are truly excellent. The Firebird with Paquita is the Royal New Zealand Ballet’s upcoming show and promises to be spectacular. It starts touring on July 29. Remembering The People’s Princess. July 1 would have been Princess Diana’s 60th birthday and in commemoration of this milestone, we’ve produced a collector’s edition that celebrates the remarkable person she was. Even though it’s been more than 20 years since her death, the love for her is still strong. (Available at all the usual outlets.)…

The official announcement came two days after the birth, with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex welcoming daughter Lilibet ‘Lili’ Diana Mountbatten-Windsor to the world. “Lili was born on Friday, June 4 at 11.40am in the trusted care of the doctors and staff at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, CA. She weighed 7 lbs 11 oz. Both mother and child are healthy and well, and settling in at home,” announced the couple’s press secretary. “Lili is named after her great-grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen, whose family nickname is Lilibet. Her middle name, Diana, was chosen to honour her beloved late grandmother, The Princess of Wales. This is the second child for the couple, who also have a two-year-old son named Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor,” the statement continued. Shortly afterwards…

Decades before Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were flag-bearers of the progressive and global, Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon were established as Britain’s hippest couple, peerless representatives of the ‘Swinging Sixties’ and living proof that the monarchy could be both traditional and modern. According to Lord Ardwick, editor of the Daily Herald, the Snowdons signified ‘a new kind of royalty’. He went on: ‘they had far more contacts among writers and artists and so forth, not among stuffy courtiers. They became the new family model of fast travelling, hard-working, affluent young people – but at a price, a cost that was not always welcome.’ Together, this bohemian couple raced through the streets of London on Snowdon’s motorcycle or in his new Mini, visiting street markets, jazz clubs and theatres. “Margaret…

“Your hair craves moisture,” says Giles, especially if it’s colour-treated. “This process removes the lipid layer off your hair, leaving it coarse and less shiny over time.” Giles adds softness and shine back to clients’ hair with Color Wow’s Dream Cocktail Coconut-Infused, $58.50, which replaces that lipid layer colouring has removed. As a general rule, focus treatments on mid-lengths and ends for best results. Other formulas with the AWW stamp of approval: Eleven Australia Miracle Hair Mask, $38, adds volume and moisture with rosemary leaf extract, aloe vera and jojoba seed oil; and Pantene Intense Miracle Shot in Collagen, $11.50, is best suited to hair that’s coloured on a monthly basis or heat-styled weekly and only takes one minute to work its magic.…

Heaven scent Welcome the debut fragrance in Goldfield & Banks’ Botanical Series and the first-ever scent to feature Australian agarwood, sustainably harvested from Queensland’s Daintree Rainforest. Other notes include saffron, ylang-ylang, vanilla and sandalwood. Goldfield & Banks Silky Woods EDP, $305 French beauty For well-travelled readers missing their French pharmacy visits, a new Aussie website (frenchbeautyco.com.au) can restock your favourites. Our pick: Cult formula Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré, $50.20, is a moisturiser, primer and make-up remover in one, packed with plant extracts, shea butter and aloe vera. Lip service We’ve come a long way with liquid lipsticks. There was a time when they looked great but left lips tight and dry. However, the latest formulas deliver densely pigmented colour and feel feather-light. Revlon ColorStay Satin Ink Lipcolor, $30, is formulated with…

“It’s important to understand the most important aspect of our diet is the diversity of whole plants,” says Simon Hill, a nutritionist and physiotherapist, and author of The Proof is in the Plants. “It’s like the foundations of a house – you simply cannot trade diversity of plants for anything else, including a supplement.” That said, Simon believes taking a probiotic may be useful to help nourish your microbiome and get you to the point where you can handle more diversity. “The issue is where one person’s gut needs support is going to be vastly different from the next person’s,” says Simon. “Fortunately, probiotics appear to be quite safe, so if you think your microbiome could do with some extra hands on deck, take a multi-strain probiotic that contains over…

Chicken & leek patchwork pie with sour cream pastry SERVES 4 PREP + COOK TIME 1 HOUR 55 MINUTES (+ CHILLING + RESTING TIME) 75g butter, chopped 1 large (350g) leek, thinly sliced 2 garlic cloves, chopped finely ½ cup (125ml) white wine finely grated rind and juice of ½ lemon 1 tablespoon caster sugar ½ cup (80g) plain flour 3 cups (750ml) chicken stock ½ cup (120g) sour cream 1 tablespoon chopped thyme, plus extra sprigs for scattering 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 250g Swiss brown mushrooms, sliced thinly 750g chicken thigh fi llets, cut into bite-sized pieces 1 egg yolk, beaten with 1 tablespoon milk, for egg wash SOUR CREAM PASTRY 1 2/3 cup (250g) plain flour 125g chilled butter, chopped ½ cup (120g) sour cream 1…

Brussels sprouts with broccolini & parsley pesto SERVES 4 PREP + COOK TIME 4 40 MINUTES ⅓ cup (80ml) extra virgin olive oil 800g brussels sprouts, trimmed, halved 2 bunches broccolini (350g), trimmed, cut into lengths 150g baby green beans, trimmed ½ cup small, fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves ¼ cup (40g) smoked almonds, chopped coarsely PARSLEY PESTO 1 clove garlic, chopped 1 cup firmly packed, fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves 50g rocket leaves ½ cup (125ml) extra virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon rind ½ cup (50g) grated gruyère cheese (see tip) 1 PARSLEY PESTO (Makes 1 cup) Process the garlic, parsley and rocket until coarsely chopped. Add oil and process until just combined. Transfer to a bowl. Stir in rind and cheese. Season to taste. 2 Heat 2…

Our bedrooms are our personal sanctuaries – a place to lock out the world and snuggle down for what will hopefully be a restful slumber. And so it’s no surprise that as the winter months hit, there’s a flurry of sales of both furniture and soft furnishings intended to make the room feel cosier. “When it comes to the change of seasons, there’s quite a difference in what people are looking for in what is the most important room of the house,” says Tara Solberg, interior stylist and founder of Few & Far (fewandfar.com.au). “Making it really comfortable and inviting promotes a good night’s sleep. It means you can completely switch off and leave behind everything you’ve been thinking, doing or working on that day. It’s our retreat area.” It’s…

Still Life by Sarah Winman, HarperCollins If ever there was a literary hotel you long to check in to, the Florentine pensione at the pulsating heart of Sarah Winman’s new epic novel is that place. The award-winning author confesses that this story found her back in 2015, when she was on a trip to the Renaissance city. “I was having a late lunch in a neighbourhood restaurant when I noticed on the walls photographs of Florence underwater – what I came to know as the flood of 1966. The owner brought out books for me to look at and told me about the Mud Angels, the young men and women who flocked to the city to help clean up. That was the moment the story came to me and wouldn’t…

The Bombay Prince by Sujata Massey , Allen & Unwin If you’ve yet to discover Sujata Massey’s deliciously fun murder mysteries this is a great one to start with. Our sleuthing protagonist, Bombay’s feisty first female lawyer Perveen Mistry, is contacted by Freny, head of Woodburn College’s student union for representation of a “political” nature. It is November 1921 and Gandhi, also a lawyer – if more famous – is campaigning for an independent India. The Prince of Wales is visiting – a rather aloof, if dapper Edward – and a body of students want to boycott the parade even though college rules dictate their attendance. They aren’t the only dissenters and protests abound. Then Freny is found lying in the college garden, “two rivulets of blood” running from beneath…

My greatest accomplishment is… My daughter Owairea. My favourite thing about this time of year is… Free snuggles with my mini-me. The cold is a great excuse! I would spend my last day on Earth… With my family in our Aotearoa paradise with all the best foods. Life is too short for… Drama that isn’t Shortland Street! Top of my priorities for self-care is… Hydration and skincare. When I need to get some spark back into my soul, I… Call my girls. They know who they are! The person I admire most in the world right now is… Aunty Cindy! Still leading us all through the pandemic. The three words I would use to describe myself are… Māori. Māmā. Creative. If I could star in anything, it would be… The…

If I could be on any other reality show, I’d be on… It’s a toss-up between Queer Eye and anything related to DIY. The last message I sent on my phone was… To my dad’s sister, my Aunt Ruth, to wish her and her wife a happy Pride Month back home in California. It’s nice not being the only “rainbow sheep” in the family! Life is too short for… Worrying about what other people think of you. Follow your bliss. There’s no guidebook, so it’s always fun to make up the rules as you go. If I wasn’t in business, I’d be a… Poet, filmmaker or writer of silly songs. The last time I cried was when… We went to see In the Heights. One of the scenes just blew…

Scientist and grandmother Mary White was 92 years old when she died in her nursing home bed one cold winter’s night in 2018. From the outside, the talented palaeobotanist’s death appeared to be a natural end to a full and productive life. The curls of her youth had long been white, and her final moments were watched over by her loving daughter, Barbara Eckersley. But when her doctor was asked to sign the death certificate, he refused. Something wasn’t right. Mary had lived actively on her Falls Forest eco-property on the mid-north coast of NSW until she was well into her 80s, when a heart attack and then a series of small, destructive strokes blunted her brilliant mind and left her paralysed down one side of her body. She was…

Like the move from heavy foundations to lighter ones, most experts agree it’s best to blend emerging greys into your natural colour than hide it completely. It’s less maintenance and allows you to avoid the regrowth line. Dee says clever highlighting is the modern way to blend in. “A few blonde highlights will make your greying hair seem creamy rather than yellow,” she explains. “In salon, your hairdresser will choose a complimentary toner to achieve this as they are designed to cover greys without damaging the hair.” If you’re colouring hair at home, “apply colour with a comb to blend the greys”, suggests colourist Pete Lennon.…

I was unaware of my brows – and their power – until my first photo shoot at age 19. I’d scored an editorial job at Cleo magazine and agreed (for the sake of my first byline) to model runway fashion. To be clear, this was not because I had a swan-like physique or jaw-dropping looks. My editor wanted to highlight how ridiculous runway fashion looked on the average person. I still remember the make-up artist’s horror: “Oh, doll, look at those caterpillars. Have they ever been touched?” It took me a second to realise what he was talking about. “My brows?” I asked. I focused in on them. They did look quite full and dark. And I guess there were several hairs sprouting between the arches, creating what could only…

Addiction is not just messy drunks, coke-heads or junkies. The biochemical reality is we can become addicted to many things that are much more subtle and that are so socially acceptable, we’d happily give them to toddler. Our brains operate a biochemical reward system to make us get off our bottoms and do stuff that keeps us alive long enough to produce the next generation. Without it, we wouldn’t get out of bed, we wouldn’t eat even if food was put in front of us, we wouldn’t go to the trouble of meeting other people and certainly wouldn’t bother getting to know them well enough to have children with them. This same system keeps us safe from danger by providing us with the motivation to run away or stand and…

Shells with fresh corn, anchovies & pecorino SERVES 4 PREP + COOK TIME 25 MINUTES cup (80ml) extra virgin olive oil 10 anchovy fillets, chopped coarsely 4 garlic cloves, chopped finely 1 teaspoon dried chilli flakes, or to taste 3 large fresh corn cobs, kernels removed 500g medium-sized shell pasta (conchiglie rigate) 1½ cups (120g) finely grated pecorino, plus extra to serve 50g unsalted butter 1 cup loosely packed round mint, leaves torn 2 tablespoons pepitas, toasted 1 Combine the olive oil, anchovies, garlic and chilli flakes in a large frying pan over medium heat; cook, stirring, for 2 minutes or until garlic is fragrant but not coloured. Add the corn kernels and cook, stirring, for about 2 minutes. 2 Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large saucepan of boiling,…

The ricotta allows for the hint of nutmeg and sharpness of silverbeet to be rounded and smooth Gnudi, a deliciously rounded word for a deliciously rounded dumpling. True to the romanticism of Italy the name of these gnocchi-like morsels translates to “naked”, for gnudi are made with the filling of ravioli but without the pasta. Unlike gnocchi, which is made using flour and potato, gnudi are a little fickle as they rely on fresh ricotta to bind them. For those thinking that the jackpot has been obtained with a low-carb miracle dish, the calories are made up for with plenty of parmesan and the traditional sauce of beautifully browed butter. The most integral ingredient in gnudi is in fact the ricotta, a mild, sweet, fresh cheese that allows for the…