Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2021 i Australian Women’s Weekly NZ

A couple of years ago, someone gave me a gratitude journal. It was a beautiful book, leather-bound with gold foil lettering, a silky satin bookmark and premium lined paper. It was the kind of thing that ups your intellect level just by carrying it around. As a journalist who is constantly jotting down observations and info, I like nothing better than a quality notebook, but the thought of having to fill the pages with musings about what I’m thankful for, everyday no less, seemed a bit much. When you write for a living, the last thing you want to do is write for the fun of it. But like many of you, I had heard people talk about how expressing gratitude had positively impacted their life and who doesn’t want…

“Let’s start at the beginning,” I suggest. “Now, there’s an interesting point,” Hinemoa replies, fixing me with those lively eyes of hers. “Where is the beginning? That’s what I’m interested in for the people I work with.” For the beginning, she explains, is long before we’re born. Our beginnings lie in the paths of our ancestors. There is, she points out, an enormous body of research available now that reveals the impact of trauma and colonisation on previous generations can manifest in many ways, both physically and emotionally, on those who follow. Many of the troubled youths she sees in her practice are a case in point. Dr Hinemoa Elder is one of our most respected forensic child psychiatrists. She writes psychiatric reports for the courts, as well as having…

In 2019, I received a text message saying my phone was being switched to Amaysim. Since it meant nothing to me, I ignored it. Two days later I got another message, this one ostensibly from Telstra, saying my transfer had been complete. Again, I thought, ‘This is a phishing scam.’ Later, I discovered my phone wasn’t working. I came into the office to use my desk phone, but when I tried to open my email account to retrieve Telstra’s customer service number, my password wouldn’t work. Alert but not alarmed, I went to the Telstra site to find the number. I provided them with information and was told the matter was being referred to the fraud squad. There wasn’t much I could do, so I headed off. En route I…

In November 1952, Maria Callas was invited by Sir David Webster of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, to give five performances of Norma. She held a high D for 12 beats, inspiring critics to call her “the most exciting singer on the stage today”. Opera magazine wrote, “Callas held her audience in abject slavery.” Until then, she had immersed herself in the vocal techniques of opera. Now she wanted to physically embody its heroines. She said, “You can’t portray a beautiful young woman if you’re enormous.” A forthcoming production of Medea at La Scala was her incentive: she wanted a sharp chin “for expression in certain very hard phrases, cruel phrases or tense phrases”. In early 1954, Maria visited a Swiss clinic run by Dr Paul Niehans, a pioneer…

Beauty note Embrace rich copper and brown tones on both lips and eyes. TRY: Revlon So Fierce! Prismatic Quad in Tantrum, $32, and Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lipcolor Naked Mattes in Skinny Dip, $27. Defined brows are an easy way to look effortlessly polished. Swipe on a tinted formula to add dimension and keep them looking groomed all day long. TRY: Revlon ColorStay Brow Fiber Filler, $28. Warm up your complexion with a liquid bronzer, which gives skin a hit of sun-kissed colour and a luminous finish. TRY: Revlon SkinLights Face Glow Illuminator in Sunburst Bronze, $28.…

PEPTIDES The patented peptides in Estée Lauder’s Perfectionist Pro Rapid Firm + Lift Treatment, $220, boost collagen and elastin production, and have been shown to help skin look firmer over time, while AHAs work double-time to boost radiance. Another option: Dr Roebuck’s Ningaloo Firming Serum, $108, is a clean formula with copper peptides and Australian botanicals. HYALURONIC ACID Skin is only as firm as it’s hydrated, which is why the secret weapon in Kate Somerville Kateceuticals Firming Serum, $166, has super-hydrating hyaluronic acid to help skin retain moisture and appear firmer. We also love La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Serum, $69.95, with its water-gel texture that delivers a healthy glow. RETINOL Research has shown time and again that a regular dose of vitamin A helps skin behave younger as it boosts…

just IN Curl revelation Bread Beauty Supply is a range of natural essentials designed for curly or Afro-textured hair. Created by Australian Maeva Heim, the range has a cult following overseas and includes Hair-Wash, $35, a sulphate-free cleanser with aloe vera; Hair-Mask, $49, a creamy deep conditioner with Kakadu plum seed oil; and Hair-Oil Everyday Gloss (below), $42, which gives curls a light-reflecting sheen. HOT BUY Perfect pout Revlon’s Super Lustrous Mattes Lipsticks (pictured: Ride Or Die), $25, are your go-to for a satin-matte slick of colour to perk up your complexion instantly. With six shades to choose from, there’s one to suit every mood. ingredient WATCH BHAs For radiant skin, exfoliating acids are essential. And if your skin is prone to bumps or clogged pores, try BHAs (beta hydroxy…

Philosopher Henry David Thoreau’s most meaningful essay was about walking. To put it mildly, he was obsessed. “Every walk is a sort of crusade,” he proclaimed. Without walking, he said he could not preserve his health or sprits. He also couldn’t write. For Thoreau, walking was not just a physical act, but a spiritual one too. And today, science has caught up with his musings, as more and more data stacks up on the side of walking being one of the best things you can do for your health and mind. “It has a plethora of physical and mental benefits,” says Mairead Hallissey, a physiotherapist at Melbourne’s BalanceNorth, noting that research shows it can help manage chronic disease, reduce the risk of some cancers and lower blood sugar too. It’s…

From maggie “Nothing’s more welcoming than coming home at the end of the day to the scents of slow cooking. Winter’s the time to bring this comfort and delight to family and friends.” Freekeh, grilled broccolini and parsley salad with preserved lemon yoghurt dressing SERVES 4 - 6 PREP + COOK TIME 1 HOUR 1 cup (200g) freekeh, rinsed 2 bunches broccolini, trimmed ⅓ cup (80ml) extra virgin olive oil ½ cup (140g) Greek yoghurt 1 tablespoon finely chopped preserved lemon rind 1 small (100g) red onion, sliced 100g Maggie Beer quince paste, diced ½ cup flat-leaf parsley leaves ½ cup round mint leaves 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 Place a medium saucepan of water over a high heat, add the freekeh and bring to the boil, then simmer, partially…

Prawn linguine All day dreaming of the weekend. Are we there yet? If prawn linguine is printed on a menu, it’s Saturday lunchtime and you are dining with friends, I can almost guarantee you should text the babysitter now and ask how much later they can really stay after the agreed time. If it is, in fact, a Wednesday when you are making this, then you are already checking out of the work week and into the weekend. You should text people now and make some plans. Coconut chilli wings This is one of those recipes that just created itself. Deep from the basement of my brain, all the ingredients and ideas for this dish peered out from behind their hiding spot with squinting eyes and ventured into the open.…

Spiced poached pear cake with salted toffee sauce SERVES 12 PREP + COOK TIME 1 HOUR 40 MINUTES (+ COOLING TIME) ¾ cup (110g) self-raising flour 1 cup (100g) hazelnut meal 1 cup (220g) firmly packed brown sugar 150g butter, melted 6 egg whites POACHED PEARS 9 small pears (900g) 1 vanilla bean 2 cinnamon sticks, broken in half ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg 2 cups (440g) firmly packed brown sugar 1.5 litres (6 cups) water SALTED TOFFEE SAUCE ¾ cup (165g) caster sugar ¼ cup (60ml) water ¾ cup (180ml) thickened cream, at room temperature 1 tablespoon brandy 2-3 teaspoons soy sauce 1 POACHED PEARS Peel pears, leaving stalks intact. Remove cores from the base. Halve vanilla bean lengthways; scrape seeds into a medium saucepan. Add cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar and…

When Things Are Alive They Hum by Hannah Bent, Ultimo Press In Harper Ming Hua Eve, author Hannah Bent has created a literary heroine of such pure beauty she takes your breath away, which is pertinent since breath is something Harper craves. We meet this very special young woman at the age of 21 when her health is failing her, as it has so many times before. Nevertheless, Harper displays a zest for life and cheerfulness that makes anyone who meets her, not least the reader, question their own outlook. She can’t abide those who damn her condition as Down syndrome – to Harper it is Up syndrome, beneficent and rather fabulous. Harper’s vision of the world, of her family, her boyfriend and of human emotions like love and loss,…

How did you become a thriller writer? I wanted to be a writer from the age of 12, but growing up in country towns like Gundagai, I felt that I had nothing to write about. I like to think I became a journalist to gather material, but I fell in love with newspapers. It wasn’t until my late 30s that I wrote [debut novel] The Suspect. That triggered a bidding war and every dream I ever had of being a writer came true. Where do you begin with a novel? I start with an idea – a ‘what if’ – and then I create a character. From that moment, the story unfolds organically, without plotting or planning. I figure if I don’t see the twists coming, neither will the reader.…

Testing...  what could be the ultimate mascara. I’ve never been a fan of eyelash tinting thanks to my super-sensitive eyes, however, without dark lashes, my face has no definition. Revlon’s So Fierce! Big Bad Lash might be the answer for me. Not only does the volume last for 24 hours, but the product also gently tints your lashes over a seven-day period. At just $27, it’s a steal. Contemplating…  joining the clean vehicle revolution. I know it makes sense to move to an electric car, but as someone who struggles to charge the iPad on a regular basis, I worry about fully committing, which is why I’m checking out the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV, an all-wheel drive SUV. It offers the best of both worlds. The plug-in technology means I…

The arrival of a new baby bongo antelope, which is a critically endangered species, has been a cause for celebration at Warsaw Zoo. The as-yet-unnamed bongo (far left) arrived in June and antelope zookeeper Magdalena Smolinksa said, “The little one has already exchanged kisses with her dad.” The birth marks the second new arrival in three months for the zoo, which is dedicated to protecting species. The Weekly also loved this snap (left) of a baby bird running to its dinner.…

It was the moment we had all been waiting for – Princes William and Harry reunited to honour their mother Diana, Princess of Wales, on the day that would have been her 60th birthday. The brothers had announced their joint commission of a statue of their mother back in 2017, a year awash with Diana memories 20 years after her death, its tragedy as inconceivable and painful as ever. This was to be a joint project for Diana’s sons, who are both fierce guardians of their mother’s memory. According to Kensington Palace, “Prince William and Prince Harry wanted the statue to recognise her positive impact in the UK and around the world, and help future generations understand the significance of her place in history.” A small committee was formed, including…

Maggie Tabberer has graced the cover of The Australian Women’s Weekly many times but confesses she never thought she’d still be a cover girl at 84. “Darling, I’m thrilled,” she tells me settling into the make-up chair at our photographic studio. It took some coaxing to persuade the former model and Aussie icon out of retirement to step in front of the photographer’s lens once more for a full-blown photo shoot, but she is clearly having a ball. No sooner has she arrived than she’s talking through clothes, fabrics, hats, wraps and jewellery with The Weekly’s Style Director Mattie Cronan and sharing reminiscences from her days back in the 1960s as famous photographer Helmut Newton’s muse. And when she’s ready for her close-up Maggie doesn’t flinch and picks up right…

At 34-and-a-half, I appeared to have an enviable life. I was founder of a hot Sydney start-up, and I regularly appeared in the media and at business conferences, where I encouraged other women to strive for their goals. But on the inside, I was miserable. Because when I arrived home from work and looked at the four walls of my nice apartment, I was alone. I cooked alone, ate alone, watched TV alone and fell asleep clinging to a pillow. All I wanted was love and a family of my own. But I hadn’t been on a date in 10 years following the tragic death of my first boyfriend in a car accident. The first years after the accident were filled with grief. But as I clocked into my 30s,…

The first time I had the “triangle of youth” explained by a dermatologist, it fell on deaf ears as I was a few months shy of my 25th birthday. Put simply, the doctor explained to little me that a youthful face is made up of three attributes: high cheekbones, full cheeks and “most importantly”, she said, a well-defined jawline. As we age, the triangle inverts. Fast-forward 20 years and I can see this as plainly as the jowls on my face. “Our face shape changes as we lose collagen and elastin, our facial soft tissue drops and there is bone resorption,” says dermatologist Dr Shyamalar Gunatheesan. It’s a perfect storm for sagging. And increasingly, doctors, dermal technicians and cosmetic chemists are focusing their efforts on rejuvenating the jawline as a…

Recently I sat down to dinner with my husband and mother-in-law. I’d cooked something delicious and lit candles. And then this from my husband: “Have you ever had Botox?” Four eyeballs watched me, waiting. Honestly, who even asks that? Some context: my husband has never asked anything specific about my beauty regime, except to say lovely things. He knows what I do for a living and I’m assuming understands that means I sometimes test things that involve radio waves or lasers being blasted at my face. I came home recently with what looked like severe sunburn (laser-induced) and he didn’t even mention it. In my mind, we had an unspoken agreement not to probe. When I once found receipts for laser hair removal that were not mine, I left it,…

By your late thirties or early forties, you could be undergoing a profound hormonal shift that affects your body and, more particularly, your brain, and that can feel bewildering, frustrating and liberating all at the same time. Even if you don’t have symptoms such as hot flushes, perimenopause is a critical window for health and an inflection point when small health problems can, if not addressed, amplify into larger and more permanent ones. The good thing about this window is that it’s also a time when small changes can pay big dividends for your future health. And one of the first steps is to address the way these hormonal changes impact your nervous system. For example, you may be noticing changes in how you handle stress, how deeply you sleep…

Listen in The mindfulness app Calm is well known for offering guided relaxation sessions for all levels, but we love the walking meditations that blend exercise with stress reduction. Be present According to headspace.com (a great resource for relaxation), one of the simplest ways to get out of your head is to notice how your body feels as you walk. Contemplate your gait. Tune into sights and sounds around you. And as your mind drifts, return to these observations. Think big “Setting intentions when we walk can help us remember that we have some control around our choices and their outcomes,” says Dr Allen. For example, “I intend to see the goodness around me,” or “I intend to say what I mean”. “The forward movement of walking always leaves me feeling…

Easy tomato & tuna noodles  PREP + COOK TIME 15 MINUTES 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus extra to drizzle 250g cherry tomatoes, halved 2 cloves garlic, crushed 75g packet 2-minute noodles 95g can tuna in olive oil, drained 50g baby spinach leaves finely grated lemon rind and juice, to serve 1 Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over low heat. Add the tomatoes and garlic, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, for 6-8 minutes, or until the tomatoes are soft. Add the noodles (discarding the flavour sachet) and ¾ cup (180ml) boiling water; bring to a simmer and cook for 1 minute or until just tender. 2 Add the tuna and cook for 1 minute or until heated through. Toss with spinach and serve…

Beef & broccoli MAKES ABOUT 36 SMALL MEATBALLS 400g beef sausages 120g broccoli florets, blitzed until fine 1½ tablespoons onion relish rice bran oil, for pan-frying 1 Squeeze the sausage meat out of the casings, then mix in a bowl with the broccoli and onion relish until well combined. Wet your hands and roll teaspoons of the mixture into small meatballs (you’re aiming for about 36). 2 Pan-fry in batches in a splash of oil over medium-high heat for 3 minutes each side, or until golden and cooked through. Chicken & corn MAKES ABOUT 36 SMALL MEATBALLS 400g chicken sausages 3 tablespoons drained tinned corn kernels 3 tablespoons thinly sliced spring onion rice bran oil, for pan-frying 1 Squeeze the sausage meat out of the casings, then mix in a…

Choose the smallest, most even-sized pears you can – we found multipacks of lunchbox-size pears from supermarkets to be perfect. The trick with a caramel or toffee is to be fastidious in the early stages of cooking to ensure all sugar crystals are dissolved. You can wipe down the side of the pan with a wet pastry brush to be extra sure. Soy sauce adds that extra dimension to the toffee sauce, creating a salted caramel flavour.…

Debut author Hannah Bent was born and raised in Hong Kong. She studied film first in London and then in Australia, and completed a master’s in Creative Writing at Sydney’s University of Technology. “I’ve always been drawn to forms of creative expression, but I particularly love writing and the capacity words have to linger in one’s heart and mind long after they are read,” she tells The Weekly. When Things Are Alive They Hum took more than a decade to write, and in 2013 Hannah was awarded the Ray Koppe Young Writers’ Award for the novel as a work in progress. Hannah is currently working on her second novel.…

Zoom: Space Adventures by Susan Hayes, Walker Chunky board book with die-cuts. Watch astronaut Ava as she floats outside her craft, seeing supernova on her way home. Also … Zoom: Ocean Adventures. Fossils From Lost Worlds by Damien Laverdunt, Walker Fossils help us history-walk. Deinonychus, with its dinosaur’s body plus wings, lived 110 million years ago, found in the US in 1964. The Hatmakers by Tamzin Merchant, Penguin When Captain Hatmaker is lost at sea, daughter Dilly, 11, dispatches Pigeon Agatha with a note: Father, please find yourself at sea. “Now, we have to finish the ‘Concentration Hat’ for the King!”…

Leo Jul 24 - Aug 23 Roll out the long red carpet, uncork the sparkling wine and sound the trumpets, please – it’s Leo birthday time! To a backing track of “simply the best, better than all the rest”, August ensures your majesties are the epicentre of attention, strutting your stuff and shaking your mane (yes, your hair is looking fabulous). The annual new moon in Leo on August 8 sashays down the astral catwalk with permission to shamelessly self-promote. And Mercury in your sign until mid-month deals you the charm card, though you’ll need to back your enthusiasm with well-researched facts and a workable plan. Also, take care not to over-promise. Virgo Aug 24 - Sep 23 Affectionate Venus and sexy Mars doing a pas de deux in your…

Cult member jailed Former Smallville actress Allison Mack has been sentenced to three years in prison for her role recruiting slaves for the cult NXIVM. Britney’s plea Singer Britney Spears has revealed the shocking level of control she is under as she fights to end a conservatorship that has been in place for 13 years. Just married Gwen Stefani was in No Doubt when she wed country crooner Blake Shelton after more than five years of dating. The ecstatic bride proclaimed, “Dreams do come true.”…

The last text message I sent was… A bunch of photos of my son to the grandparents. They need daily updates! The quote that always sticks in my head is… “Always remember the people who help you on the way up because you’ll need them on the way down.” My granddad taught me that one. If I wasn’t an actress, I’d be… A speech language therapist. The last time I cried was… When I was watching Dark on Netflix. Such an incredible series. Life is too short for… Bad food! My greatest achievement is… Getting my university degree while working full-time. It took me six years, but I got there! If I was a talk-back host, I’d… Host a new-mums’ support group!…

When she first broke onto the scene in 2014 with her bouncy ponytail and bright-eyed claims that she had conquered her terminal brain cancer with “nutrition-based therapy”, Belle Gibson was difficult to ignore. The inspirational story she had written for herself, of the single mother beating the odds and becoming an entrepreneurial success and philanthropic darling in the process, drew awards, magazine profiles and adulation. But when journalists revealed that her whole persona was a tangle of elaborate lies, the world turned on her fast. The self-anointed wholefood healer received death threats, while the authorities pursued her for her deceptive and unconscionable conduct. Photographers papped her coming and going from her house, and global headlines, podcasts and books fuelled her infamy. She was prosecuted and fined, but refused to pay.…

While apparently stationed in South Korea, US soldier “Ryan” spent 16 months flattering and seducing Belinda Ann Frantzen before he began asking her for favours. By then, the mother-of-three believed herself to be in a committed relationship with the uniformed man she had met on a dating website in December 2015. Ryan wanted to include her in his future as he prepared to retire, he said. He had served his country for 20 years and was owed more than $2 million in superannuation. So far this story reads like an obvious scam. Cybercriminals are known to favour military personnel when creating fake personas because it lends them credibility and provides a handy excuse for why they can’t meet their victim. But Ryan didn’t ask Belinda to send him money, nor…

In 2015, Kat Stewart should have been on top of the world. She was in the first flush of pregnancy with a much longed-for second child, a daughter she would call Gigi. Her marriage to fellow actor David Whiteley was going from strength to strength, the pair having successfully navigated their way from colleagues to friends to blissful lovers. And her career was still on an upward trajectory, with a comeback seventh season of Offspring soon to be announced, and several other projects in the works. Yet behind closed doors she was in the midst of unthinkable heartbreak. Five days after she’d learnt she was pregnant, her mother Kitty had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer – a disease that would claim her life four-and-a-half months later. Not only that, but…

Problem spot: Slackened skin Treatment: Ultraformer What it is: Ultrasound energy is delivered deep under the skin into the SMAS muscle (the same one doctors tighten during a facelift). The ultrasound stimulates the growth of new collagen over time, strengthening and toning the skin from within to make it look smoother and brighter. It also tightens the neck and chin area. What to expect: Once your face is marked up with removable pen, a cool gel is smoothed on skin and then a handheld device begins passing over the area. It’s like a gentle and fleeting snapping sensation. The jaw can feel a little ouch-y, but it passes quickly and deep breathing helps. The lower-face, chin and neck area take about 30 minutes to treat. There’s no downtime, but the…

Darker lashes Revlon So Fierce! Big Bad Lash Mascara, $28, employs gentle technology that tints the lashes over seven days, while enhancing them as well. Brighter skin Arbonne DermResults Illuminating Skin Therapy Concentrate, $145, is a potent antioxidant booster. Packed with brightening vitamin C to reduce the appearance of dark spots and even the tone too. Fewer blemishes Tbh Acne Hack Cleanser, $32.30, has a combination of both cleansing and conditioning ingredients to reduce the appearance and formation of blemishes.…

Magnesium Research shows that magnesium can normalise the action of different hormones on the central nervous system. Sources include nuts, dark chocolate and leafy green vegetables – but it’s hard to get enough when you’re stressed, because your body pees out magnesium to rev up your nervous system. Take at least 300mg of elemental magnesium – preferably as magnesium glycinate powder. Zinc One of my favourite supplements for mood symptoms, zinc dials down cortisol and helps to regulate the HPA axis. Because it’s great for skin, hair and the vaginal epithelium, it can improve both complexion and vaginal dryness. The best form is zinc citrate or picolinate taken directly after food. Doses of up to 30mg are safe; don’t take more than 80mg per day for more than three months…

Layers A raincoat worn over a warm base layer is essential for winter walking. TRY: lululemon Rain Rebel Jacket, $269. Leggings Technical fabrics wick moisture and reduce chafing. TRY: P.E Nation All Rounder Leggings, $129. Trainers You don’t need to rush out and buy brand new shoes, but you do need a comfortable, supportive and closed-toe pair. TRY: Adidas Originals Marimekko NMD_R1, $240. Accessories Listen to tunes that encourage a faster pace, and drink plenty of H2O. TRY: Beats By Dr. Dre Wireless Earphones, $349.95. Frank Green Ceramic Reusable Bottle, $52.95. Sports bra Reduce uncomfortable shifting and bouncing that can be a disincentive to step up the pace when you walk. TRY: Nimble Activewear Circuit Breaker Bra, $85.…

Silverbeet with pine nuts SERVES 4 AS A SIDE PREP + COOK TIME 20 MINUTES 500g silverbeet, washed and dried ¼ cup (60ml) extra virgin olive oil 1 large (300g) red onion, sliced 1/ cup (50g) raisins ½ cup (80g) pine nuts, toasted 1 Trim about 8cm of the stem ends from the silverbeet; discard ends. Chop remaining silverbeet coarsely, keeping leaves and remaining white stems separate. 2 Heat olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat; cook the onion, stems of silverbeet and the raisins for 5 minutes. Add silverbeet leaves and cook, stirring, for 8 minutes or until tender and just wilted. Season with salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper. 3 Stir in toasted pine nuts and serve. Not suitable to freeze or microwave. From…

Earl Grey bomboloni with lemon curd MAKES 25 PREP + COOK TIME 1 HOUR (+ REFRIGERATION & STANDING TIME) These little Italian doughnuts are a great start if you are new to making doughnuts. Lemon curd isn’t hard to make either; however there’s a fine line between getting it thick enough to coat the spoon generously, and not allowing it to boil. 80g unsalted butter 1 cup (250ml) milk 3 teaspoons (10g) dried yeast ¼ cup (55g) caster sugar 2 Earl Grey tea bags 3 cups (450g) plain flour ½ teaspoon table salt 2 egg yolks vegetable oil, for deep-frying 1 cup (220g) caster sugar, extra LEMON CURD ¾ cup (165g) caster sugar 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon rind ½ cup (125ml) lemon juice 4 eggs, beaten lightly 150g cold…

Apparently, we spend a third of our lives in bed. This alone makes the bedroom a contender for the “most used room in the house” title. But we don’t just use the bedroom to sleep – it’s also where we get ready in the morning and it’s a sanctuary when we need to chill out. For some, it might also be an office space. “People have the attitude of ‘I only sleep there’ and therefore don’t put as much effort into the space as they should,” says interior designer Laura Heynike of Pocketspace Interiors. As the one room in the house that truly reflects you, it should be a playground for decorating – regardless of whether it’s on show or not. This space is yours to enjoy. So, whether you’re…

Migrant tale The Making of Mrs Petrakis by Mary Karras, Two Roads A fearless but aromatic story of Maria Petrakis’ bakery in Harringay, London – the heart of the Greek Cypriot community who fled war in their homeland. Maria escaped a violent marriage, and daughter Katerina died, survived by round-bellied brother Costa, hand outstretched for café leftovers. When Elena, 19, walks into her shop, Maria sees one word: daughter-in-law. With baby number two on the way, Costa’s love for his wife grows, but “his understanding of her diminishes”. Elena feels cursed by the death of Katerina. Karras warms us with the honey, cinnamon and rosewater delicacies as the till hums in her cosy bakery, but the sweetmeats are a cover for a people ravaged by civil war and family loss…

I learned about my mother’s disappearance from the evening news. I looked up from my textbook when I overheard my surname and recognised the exact cypress tree that grew outside my bedroom window. From that point on, my life turned into a stream of simple equations. How long my mother had been missing (one day). How long since I’d had an actual conversation with her (just over a year). The cost of a bus ticket back to Coeur du Lac, my adopted hometown ($15). The amount left in my bank account after spending fifteen dollars ($110.67). How doomed I would be if I abandoned Chicago for longer than three nights (very: I had four exams looming within the next few weeks). For a while I lost myself in these calculations…

My favourite thing about this time of year is… Blue-sky days with single-digit temperatures. When I’m not working, I can be found… Walking my dogs. I have a couple of rescues, Benny, a beautiful mix of who-knows-what, and Sam, a gorgeous bearded collie. My favourite meal to cook is… This changes all the time, but as of this week, roast vegetable soup finished off with a bottle of cream – delicious! The three words I would use to describe myself are… Empathetic, organised and ever-so-slightly anxious – the anxiety I’m blaming on perimenopause! Top of my priorities for self-care is… Sleep. I am permanently sleep-deprived because of the hours I work, so I try to catch up in the weekends. But even at 6am on a Saturday, my body clock…