Innholdsfortegnelse for 1733 i New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Sir Elton John wasn’t afraid to get his legs out while on holiday with his family in Sardinia. Joining countless other celebrities thronging to the Mediterranean for their summer breaks, Elton (70), husband David Furnish (54) and their sons Zachary (6) and Elijah (4) jumped on their yacht before David took the boys paddle-boarding. David and Elton have been making waves on the Italian island with their loud and eye-catching holiday fashion – you could never call them wallflowers! #…

Actress Jessica Lange (68) is grieving after her former partner Sam Shepard has passed away, aged 73, from motor neurone disease last week. Many people would recognise the actor, who was also a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, as Robert Rayburn in the TV series Bloodline or his role as Noah’s dad in romantic tear-jerker The Notebook. But for nearly 30 years, he was just “Sammy” to Jessica. The pair were together from 1982 to 2009 after first meeting on the set of the film Frances, and had two children together, Hannah Jane (31) and Samuel Walker (30). Only hours before Sam’s death, Jessica spoke about their tumultuous romance. “I wouldn’t call Sammy easy-going and funny, but everybody has their dark side and he always does it with a sense of humour,”…

‘Winning an Olympic medal on home soil, overlooking your country’s capital, is like nothing else I’ve experienced’ She’s most well known for being a granddaughter of the Queen, but as one of the world’s top equestrians, Zara Tindall has enjoyed a plethora of success – most notably, her silver medal at the London 2012 Olympic Games, the first-ever Olympic medal awarded to a British royal. Continuing the royal family’s long obsession with horses, Zara (36) has been enamoured with all things equine since she was a little girl. Like her mother, Princess Anne (66), Zara has enjoyed a successful equestrienne career and is keen for her daughter Mia to follow in her footsteps, often taking her rambunctious three-year-old along to competitions with her father, Mike Tindall (38). While she missed…

‘Ronnie, I forgive you’ Divorce, says Jo Wood, is the best thing that has ever happened to her. The ex-wife of Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood admits she was broken-hearted when their 34-year relationship fell apart after he cheated on her with a Ukrainian cocktail waitress. But eight years down the track, Jo (62) says the break-up of her marriage changed her life for good. “I was devastated at first but in time, I realised that splitting from Ronnie really was the best thing that could have happened to me. I got my freedom back. When I was with him, I lived in a bubble where my only job was to keep him alive. Since I’ve been on my own, I’ve rediscovered who I am and had a blast.” Jo was…

Here’s an exercise in truthfulness – be honest with yourself and pencil a “Yes” or “No” to the nine questions listed below. Check your score. A score of less than five is tough luck on him, seven means there’s still hope, while full marks should be checked by an unbelievably lucky husband. 1 Do you look your best about the house? 2 Are you gay and sunny at breakfast? 3 Are you always the perfect hostess? 4 Do you look after your figure? 5 Do you wear hats your husband likes? 6 Do you cook his favourite food? 7 Do you laugh at your husband’s jokes? 8 Are you always on his side? 9 Do you still admire your husband?…

‘Elliot assured me it was nothing, that it wasn’t melanoma. He didn’t want me to worry’ When Danielle Merry finally persuaded her partner to have a large mole on his arm looked at, little did the young couple know it would be a tiny dot on his calf that would set their lives on a new course. It was 2015 and Danielle (26) had been growing increasingly worried about a mole on her Air Force corporal partner Elliot Thompson’s arm. It was big and nasty-looking, and over three months had become scaly. After considerable urging, Elliot (25) dutifully headed off to the doctor to have it, along with several smaller moles, checked. He was somewhat blasé, he admits now. His doctor, however, was worried, not about the large lesion on…

PEANUT BUTTER PROTEIN CRUNCHIES MAKES 14 ½ cup ‘activated groaties’ (activated buckwheat groats) ½ cup protein powder or almond meal 1 tbsp coconut cream ½ cup peanut butter 60g dark chocolate (85% cocoa), chopped into small pieces 1 In a bowl, combine the activated groaties, protein powder, coconut cream and the peanut butter. 2 Roll into small balls. Sit in the freezer on a tray lined with baking paper to set for about 30 minutes. 3 Melt the chocolate over a double boiler, ensuring the chocolate doesn’t seize. 4 Remove the balls from the freezer and coat in the melted chocolate. Place back in the fridge to set before serving. SALTED CARAMEL SLICE SERVES 36 BASE 1 cup gluten-free flour ½ cup almond meal 110g butter (cut into small cubes)…

This week’s model Amanda shares her beauty tips with us… My beauty philosophy is: Kindness – to oneself and to others. My skincare routine: I rarely wear make-up these days. Over the past two years, I’ve lived on the beach in the Far North so sunblock is my daily moisturiser . When I’m feeling dried up like a prune, I reach for Rhino Repair Cream. Your skin and ageing is all in your genes but I do like to experiment with ingr edients from the kitchen cupboard. Most amazing skincare find: Baking soda. Give it a go… it makes a gr eat exfoliant. I mix a little with honey , let it sit and then rinse off. Avocado and honey is amazing for dry skin. And coffee grounds! I got…

There are some health topics people just don’t discuss because they’re too embarrassed. Vaginal health is one of those, but it is time to get over our inhibitions. Don’t be embarrassed! Vaginal health is an important part of a woman’s wellbeing. When things go wrong, they can affect your fertility, enjoyment of sex and your relationship, and lead to stress and confidence problems. As with any health problem, it is best to get issues sorted sooner rather than later, and don’t be embarrassed to talk to your doctor about it – to them, it’s just another body part. WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON PROBLEMS? Conditions that can affect your vagina include: • Sexually transmitted infections. These include chlamydia, gonorrhea, genital warts and herpes. Possible signs of an infection include sores…

In truth, the only sustainable plants are probably plastic. Even high-quality artificial plants are not truly sustainable in that they fade and get tatty when shredded by the cat. But some actual living plants are more sustainable than others, and if you give your plant palette a lot of thought, you can minimise your workload. The plants the designer chose for the small, simple, sustainable garden (pictured left) were olives, succulents, lavender, rosemary, astelia and flax. (I must confess to feeling a small rush of pride to see a couple of Kiwi plants in the design.) Olive trees, especially dwarf varieties, are very easy to maintain. You need only secateurs to keep them in shape, as opposed to a chainsaw, and they won’t proliferate all over the garden. Even better,…

No to Camilla I am afraid I cannot get excited about Camilla turning 70. I know the affair between her and Prince Charles was a long time ago, but some hurts never go away. It was most unfair of Charles to marry the young and innocent Diana when he pined for Camilla. I really don’t have much time for him and I certainly don’t believe Camilla should ever have the title of Queen – that would be a final insult to everyone. They should just get on with their lives, and forget about titles and being in the limelight. NOTICEBOARD JUBILEE St Dominic’s Catholic College, Henderson in Auckland celebrates 50 years on September 15-16, 2017. To register, contact the principal’s PA Tina Allingham, tina@stdoms. ac.nz, or stdoms.ac.nz. Send notices to:…

VICEROY’S HOUSE  DVD RATING M It’s rare to find a film that simultaneously entertains and educates, but Viceroy’s House does exactly that. This Upstairs Downstairs/ Downton Abbey-style tale takes a look at the partition of India after 300 years of British rule. Jeet (Manish Dayal) is a young Hindu servant who falls for the wrong girl and Louis Mountbatten is the last Viceroy of India charged with handing the country back to its people. This film brings together the two stories and addresses the tragic consequences of politics going wrong. It’s too good to just see once, making it the perfect addition to your DVD collection. We have five Viceroy’s House DVDs, RRP $34.99 each, to give away. To enter, email your name and address to nzww@bauermedia.co.nz  by…

She grew up in South Australia’s Clare Valley and for the past 20 years she and her husband have been moving back and forth to Ireland. They currently live in Dublin and she writes full-time. The reason I wanted to revisit the Quinlan family is... “Lola Quinlan. She’s flamboyant, willful, wise but also very complicated. I didn’t know my own grandmothers in real life, so I think Lola has become the one I’d have loved to have.” I enjoy writing about older characters because... ”Of the many layers to their personalities and lives, I love older women’s wisdom, generosity, knowledge and also the particular devil-may-care attitude many of them share. They make for wonderful characters in fiction too.” I think the secret of a good book is... “Characters you care…

Life’s full of clever ways to keep out the cold. The flipside of this is the many hidden hazards that come with them. For example, electric blankets can start to generate dangerous hotspots when they get older, or if the wires inside them get damaged. Luckily, there’s a simple way to check for hotspots and make sure the other forms of heating in your home are operating safely. Everything you need to know is at worksafe.govt.nz/energysafety. It’s a new initiative from Energy Safety; a part of WorkSafe, which helps you stay warm – and safe this winter. It’s full of simple, practical information and some of it’s pretty eye-opening. Did you know there’s a risk of gas leaking out of the connection when you connect a gas cylinder into an…

Former deputy leader of Labour Annette King, who says she has never wanted the top job, is delighted for Jacinda. “Opportunities like this come along very rarely in political life and when they do, you grab them with both hands. And she has,” Annette tells the Weekly. She describes her colleague as smart, intelligent and passionate, and says she has worked tirelessly, often unseen, on issues that are closest to her – children, inequality and social justice reform. “My advice to her,” says the veteran MP, who gives her valedictory speech this Thursday, winding up a 30-plus year parliamentary career,” is to just be herself. She doesn’t have to act anybody else’s role. What she’s got is the full package – she’s got the brains, she’s got the compassion, she’s…

It’s been eight months since Billie Lourd’s world was turned upside down when her mother, Star Wars icon Carrie Fisher, and grandmother, actress Debbie Reynolds, both died in the space of two days. Now, Carrie’s only child, who is also an actress, has given her first interview since the double tragedy, saying while she misses her mum and grandma every day, she thinks it’s time to step out of their immense shadows and finally be herself. Speaking to her co-star Sarah Paulson (42) for Town and Country magazine, the Scream Queens actress told how she plans to keep Carrie and Debbie’s legacy alive, and how humour kept her going during the dark days after their deaths. Quoting her mother, Billie (25) says, “If life’s not funny, then it’s just true…

‘This doesn’t belong in the public domain. It doesn’t matter that it was 20-odd years ago’ Her friends and family believe it is an outrageous invasion of privacy. TV bosses say it’s an important historical resource. The furious row over a British TV channel showing a documentary about Diana, Princess of Wales based on privately recorded video tapes became heated as her loved ones fought to stop the programme, in which she talks about her sex life with Prince Charles, how she was treated by the royal family and falling in love with her police bodyguard. Diana’s brother Charles, Earl Spencer (53), begged Channel 4 to axe the programme. Her close friend Rosa Monckton (63) wrote to TV bosses asking them to scrap the documentary, which includes footage of the…

‘It’s been the hardest time and we’re just kind of coming up for air’ To anyone on the outside, it appears Angelina Jolie has taken the break-up of her marriage to Brad Pitt in her long, elegant stride. But the Oscar-winner has revealed the split has taken a toll on her health, resulting in soaring blood pressure and facial paralysis. Angelina has admitted she has been suffering from hypertension, or high blood pressure, and Bell’s Palsy, a stress-related condition that causes muscle weakness on one side of the face, making it look as if half of the face has “dropped”. The mum-of-six, who has been focusing on the wellbeing of her children, Maddox (15), Pax (13), Zahara (12), Shiloh (11), and twins Vivienne and Knox (9), told Vanity Fair magazine,…

‘People miss cuddles, they do. I am so old, I have forgotten how to do sex’ After years entertaining the world with her romantic novels, best-selling author Jilly Cooper is ready to find love again – four years after the death of her beloved husband. The writer’s world was turned upside down in 2013 when her husband Leo died aged 79 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. The couple were married for more than 52 years. Jilly (80) says she is now ready to find another man but unlike in her books, says she is happy to swap sex for a good old-fashioned cuddle. “My husband died four years ago. What you miss is someone to tell you that you look beautiful when you go out, as that is…

“My clown name is Pickle because when you’re in a pickle, I’ll be there! But in the hospital, I’m known as Clown Doctor Bluebottle. I’ve been a professional clown for 30 years and a clown doctor since 2009. As a young person, I was really into theatrical stuff and was quite extroverted. One of my biggest qualities was resilience – I had an ability to use my sense of humour to help diffuse situations at high school. Being a medical clown is an incredibly rewarding job. We’re not doctors or medical practitioners – rather, it’s our job to help doctors and nurses, often by distracting patients and providing support. We are trained in the art of medical clowning based on the curriculum of the International Institute of Medical Clowning –…

GOOD TO KNOW Red lentils are a staple in Indian curries. They’re fast cooking and have a good protein kick. Serve this quick dhal alongside one of Nici Wickes’ curries (featured this week on page 38-41) if you wish to stretch your Indian feast to a few more guests! 1 cup red lentils 3 cups water 1 tsp salt 3 tbsp fresh root ginger, grated ¼ tsp cayenne pepper ¼ tsp ground turmeric ¼ tsp paprika ½ tsp cumin 2½ tbsp butter 2 tbsp fresh coriander, chopped Cook the lentils in the salted water for 30 minutes, then add the ginger, cayenne and turmeric. Simmer until the lentils are tender. In a small pan, sauté the paprika and cumin in the butter, then stir into the dahl with the coriander.…

If you are on the hunt for a new foundation, these three new skin enhancers won’t disappoint… GO PORELESS: Building on one of Benefit’s most famous products, the Porefessional Pore Primer, comes (1) The Porefessional Pore Minimising Makeup, $52. It has a very thin consistency that you pat and blend onto the skin with a built-in pore-blurring sponge. A good one if you have an oily-prone skin and like a matte finish. GO MINERAL: Skincare meets make-up with this liquid mineral (2) ASAP Pure Skin Perfecting Mineral Foundation, $78. As well as providing natural-looking coverage, it gives a breathable defence barrier against pollution and works on refining skin long-term with natural active ingredients to minimise the look of pores. GO PORTABLE: If you like your skin to look luminous and…

Just because you don’t like a member of your family, doesn’t give you the right to cut them out of your will, unless you let them know first. Where there’s a will... Can you disinherit a family member in your will? In other words, leave them nothing? You can try but you’d better have an exceptionally compelling reason. Surprisingly perhaps, the law no longer allows you, without prior family agreement, to leave all your wealth to anyone you fancy, and that includes charities. It says your partner and family have a right to be treated fairly when you distribute your wealth. A serious falling-out, a preference for a significant other or mistress, or an uneven balance of wealth among family members are no longer justifications for not leaving a fair…

1 Who was New Zealand’s first Labour Prime Minister? 2 What political party did Jim Anderton lead from 1991-2002? 3 Which former Prime Minister engaged in competitive motor sport during his time in office? 4 Who was New Zealand’s longest-serving Prime Minister? 5 When was construction on 6 the Beehive completed? How many branches of the New Zealand government are there, and what are they called? 7 In what year did David Lange deliver his famous “I can smell the uranium on [your breath]” speech? 8 Who is New Zealand’s 9 Head of State? Which former Green Party politician has a daughter who is currently a political reporter at TVNZ? 10 When John Key was prime minister, what was his electorate? 11 When was the successful 12 MMP referendum? Who…

GET WELL SOON A little boy had been taken to daycare by his dad for a number of days because his mum was sick. As the days drew on, my daughter, his daycare teacher, asked how his mum was as she seemed to have been sick for a long time. His reply floored her: “She must be getting better because she’s back in Dad’s bed again.” MY, Wellington WELL TIMED The little pre-schooler next door came running in to show me his wristwatch. I asked him if he could tell the time and started to show him how. “If the big hand is on 12 and the small one is on six, then it’s six o’clock. Now you try. If the big hand is on 12 and the small one…

Brave tribute A big thank you for the beautiful cover of the Weekly featuring Diana’s two lovely boys, Prince William and Prince Harry (07.08.17). It was a beautiful tribute to their mother, who has been gone for 20 years now, and it was good to hear them speaking their minds and declaring their love for her. When she passed away in 1997, like millions of others around the world, I was deeply upset and the first thing that came to mind was her young sons William and Harry who had the greater loss. As the years went by, these boys have grown to become just like their caring mother with regards to being helpful to the needy. Diana, Princess of Wales was not destined to be a queen but was…

It’s the final countdown! Over the past three months, 24 contestants have been whittled down to the top six and now all that stands between them and the grand finale is one more week of challenges. This Tuesday, the competitors have a mystery box challenge in which everything in their box must be used – and they’ve got one hour to make it happen! Finalist Sarah Tiong (25) says it’s set to be a tough week but it appears the 25-year-old lawyer is up for the challenge. “Dealing with a lot of people and long hours in my job has prepared me for the stress of MasterChef,” she tells. “It’s a different kind of stress, but I do think my job has helped me in the competition.” MasterChef Australia, TVNZ…

My book of the moment is… On Forgiveness by Richard Holloway. I admire his views on religion and humanity – he’s clearly a very wise man. This book borrows ideas from all sorts of religions and philosophers, and is easy to read. It soothed my soul when I was feeling resentments towards people and institutions. My favourite book ever is... David Niven’s The Moon’s a Balloon. I also loved his Bring on the Empty Horses. He was a wonderful actor and possibly a better writer with his anecdotes about Hollywood, life, war and love.…

‘If we’d been asked for the food to be served by topless dancing girls, we might have said no’ How do you know, when you’re a woman of a certain age, whether you’re justified in complaining about poor service or whether you’re becoming just another grumpy old woman? I do think intolerance and irritability are far more ageing than wrinkles and grey hair. I don’t want to be that particular woman who is terribly grand and who makes loud pronouncements and deplores the appalling manners and customs of young people today. But do I have to put up with poor service and take a “whatevs” attitude just to prove that I’m young at heart? Last week, I met fellow columnist and my close mate Wendyl Nissen at our local café…

Is that Céline Dion on the arm of a man? Why yes, it is! But it’s not all it seems. The mystery man who has been accompanying the My Heart Will Go On singer on her jaunts around Paris, the City of Love, is one of her back-up dancers, Pepe Munoz (32), and despite reports swirling the pair are an item, Céline’s representatives have said they are just friends. What is incontrovertible, however, is that Céline (49) is still nailing her fashion choices. The singer was spotted out and about in various haute couture and avant garde outfits – and made for quite the image as she posed for a photo outside a private jet, clad head-to-toe in animal print. Keep on being you, Céline!…

Some weeks, it can feel that things are quite nicely planned out and in control, only to have them suddenly thrown off-course from a single news event – but such is the thrill of the life of a weekly magazine editor . At the Weekly, we have a long-standing tradition of covering New Zealand politics, and giving you, our reader, the opportunity to learn more about the policy-makers who lead this country. Throughout our history, we’ve always done our utmost to remain fair and unbiased in our reporting. We’ve interviewed all the prime ministers during our time, and reached out to party leaders and MPs from all parties to have their say . Labour’s big news this week made this a newsworthy story , but you can expect other stories…

A snap poll conducted of New Zealand Woman’s Weekly readers after the news of Jacinda’s appointment revealed that although the majority of respondents believed her new role as leader would improve Labour’s performance in the next election, a far more modest number were considering actually changing their party vote. Of all National voters polled, 77% were 100% committed or very unlikely to change their vote before the election. The poll, conducted by All Woman Talk on the evening of the surprising news, revealed the highest percentage of respondents intended on voting National and were unlikely to change their party vote. THE RESULTS: Voting intention: • 42% National • 22% Labour • 10% Green Party • 8% New Zealand First • 14% Don’t know Overall, 58% said they were unlikely or…

Is all rosy in the Beckham household? Putting on a united front, Victoria (43) and David Beckham (42), were spotted dining with pals Eva Longoria (42) and José Bastón (49) in Santa Monica last week. The couple, married since 1999, are reportedly growing further apart as Victoria takes on an increasingly busy work schedule running her fashion empire, while David is said to be partying more now that his football days are long over. That’s when he’s not parenting their four children, Brooklyn (18), Romeo (14), Cruz (12) and Harper (6), as he has taken a very hands-on role. The couple’s show of solidarity also comes amid reports their new mansion in the UK has separate “his” and “hers” wings. David has been photographed around town looking a bit worse…

About asking the Queen’s advice about her marriage... “I’m sobbing and I said, ‘I’m coming to you. What do I do?’ And she said, ‘I don’t know what you should do. Charles is hopeless.’ And that was it.” About Camilla... “I remember saying to my husband, ‘Why is this lady around?’ and he said, ‘Well, I refuse to be the only Prince of Wales who never had a mistress.’” About her and Charles’ sex life... “It fizzled out about seven years ago… sort of once every three weeks.” About her bulimia... “It always felt better after I’d been sick, to get rid of the anger and I’d be very passive afterwards.” About Prince Philip... “My father-in-law said to my husband, ‘If your marriage doesn’t work out, you can always go…

Being a wife in the 1950s certainly came with its fair share of issues, and the New Zealand Woman’s Weekly of the time was there to help the humble homemaker with all sorts of advice for keeping a comfortable home and a successful relationship. While the guidance we offered back then is wildly inappropriate for today’s young wives and partners, we did seem to try and balance the scales a little by placing the onus on men with our piece “Pointers for husbands”; though, our tip of always wearing a tie around the house might not have been the key to marital happiness, in hindsight! We also offered a quiz for the new wife, “Are you the wife your husband married?” which offers a fascinating glimpse into the expected standards…

‘Abused children feel they are to blame, that it’s their fault. They need to know it’s not their fault’ When most of us think of our school lunches, we remember gleefully unwrapping sandwiches and scones, always eating the biscuit first and barely giving the apple a glance as it made its way to the bottom of our school bags. Karen Mills (63), now an Auckland grandmother, has different memories. She couldn’t eat her sandwiches one day – her father had beaten her mother while she was making them and they were speckled with blood. It’s one harrowing memory among many. While many would shudder to bring up such horrendous recollections, the mother-of-two and teacher of more than 30 years is using her own traumatic childhood to help other children in…

So many curries, so little time! This week, try a rich Indian-style lamb curry or a Thai-style chicken curry. On the menu also is a dish of spiced and roasted caulifower and carrot, which is spicily divine. Spice up dinnertime! Easy oven-baked lamb curry SERVES 2 It doesn’t come easier or tastier than this Indian-style curry. Baking it in the oven makes it the perfect meal for a winter night. 3 tbsp vegetable oil 2 onions, sliced 4 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped 2 bay leaves 1 tsp mustard seeds 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp ground coriander 1 tsp garam masala ½ tsp turmeric ½ tsp ground chilli (or to taste) 2 shoulder chops, trimmed 2 lamb leg steaks 1 can crushed tomatoes ¼-½ cup water ½ tsp salt…

Checks and grids of all different types are in. From ginghams through to tartan-inspired textiles, get ready to check them out. Make it plaid, please! RUFFLED GINGHAM • Gingham will be everywhere this spring/summer, so get in early with this gorgeous ruffled skirt from Glassons. I’ve paired it with a neck-trim blouse and a funky pair of monochrome loafers from Number One Shoes for an easy-to-wear ensemble. • As the weather warms, simply switch out the tights and loafers for a pair of on-trend mules. COAT CHECKED • A bold statement coat is great to have in the wardrobe and this EziBuy option will keep you both warm and fashionable. I’ve matched it with a knit dress from Seed Heritage and some black knee-high boots, but this coat will look…

Even on a good-hair day, most of us are prone to a bit of fluff and frizz. Knowing why it happens and things we can do to help prevent it will make for smoother sailing. Sleek styling! WHY ME? Frizz is most likely to happen when hair is dehydrated as a result of chemical bleaching, sun exposure, heat-styling or dieting. Dehydration causes the rough outer cuticle layer of each strand to fluff up, rather than lying smooth and flat like overlapping roof tiles. When this happens, moisture from the air can penetrate the cuticle, causing the strand to swell. This is what causes the fuzzy fly-aways that can spoil your ’do. KNOW YOUR ENEMY HEAT-STYLING Holding the blow-dryer too close to the hair, using the highest heat settings or going…

How to get rid of nits naturally, grow some sprouts for nutrition and a quick and easy furniture polish. Nit patrol! I had a call into my Green Goddess hour on my radio show the other day about natural ways to get rid of nits. It can seem like a never-ending battle trying to keep your child’s hair free of head lice during the school year. As soon as you think you have all your kids nit-free, one of them starts scratching, then the others join in. Some parents will turn to chemical preparations from the chemist, but some of these may no longer work if the head lice have built up resistance. Here are some tried and true natural methods I have found that work well. • Commit to…

Every now and then, a US garden design website emails me features on designer gardens. Mostly I look at the pictures, sigh with envy and get on with whatever mundane thing I was doing before, but this garden had me hooked. Beautiful spaces! Simple and sustainable – now where have I heard those “S” words before? They’re frequently used in relation to gardens, but in my pedantic view, only the first is achievable. I’ve often argued that the words “garden” and “sustainable” are an oxymoron, but having seen this design, I may be softening on that! The dictionary defines sustainable as “able to be maintained” and I have yet to meet a garden with things growing in it to which that would apply. But after a lengthy perusal of the…

Keep an eye out for the Ask the Leaders series, coming soon in New Zealand Woman’s Weekly Over the coming weeks, we’ll be submitting your questions to the leaders of each political party, so we’re inviting you to ask your burning question to be included in our upcoming Ask the Leaders series. Submit your question to the Weekly for a specific party leader, or the group as a whole, and we’ll do our best to get it answered. HOW TO HAVE YOUR SAY Send your question and who it is intended for, along with your name, age and location in New Zealand, to: EMAIL  nzww@bauermedia.co.nz, with “Ask the leaders” in the subject line FACEBOOK Send us a message at facebook.com/ nzwomansweekly POST Ask the Leaders/ New Zealand Woman’s Weekly, Bauer…

LEO Jul 24 – Aug 23 It is easy to split the cost of a lunch or pick up the tab for a coffee, but an expensive event is coming up and you need to make it clear everyone pays for themselves. Stress to everyone that accommodation and travel arrangements are each person’s responsibility. Everyone must stick to the rules and nobody can change things, especially if you are the organiser. VIRGO Aug 24 – Sep 23 There will be sad movies and you will be emotional when it comes to cute animal videos. Nostalgia will pervade the week and songs will bring back memories. So cry a river and know that you are a person who feels things deeply. You can either share those feelings or keep your tears…

Set in the 1940s, it’s the ladies of London who rule in new series The Halcyon. “The women in this drama are modern and forward-thinking,” says actress Hermione Corfield (23), who plays Emma Garland. Set in the glamorous Halcyon hotel during World War II, it shows a time where woman entered the workforce to fill the jobs men used to do. Hermione says working on the period drama gave her the chance to learn more about the woman of that era. “It was the beginning of women being officially allowed into the workplace – it was a very big step,” explains Hermione, whose character runs the hotel with her dad and recently joined the Women’s Voluntary Service (WVS). As research for the show, Hermione attended a talk with women who…

‘Lola’s past is darkly shadowed and there are secrets she has never shared with her family’ I like coming across familiar places and people in the books I read. As soon as I embarked on The Trip of a Lifetime, I realised I’d met the Quinlan family before in one of the author’s previous novels, The Alphabet Sisters. The Quinlans live in the Clare Valley, a South Australian wine region, and are a family held together by Irish matriarch Lola, an irrepressible 85-year old. As this latest story begins, Lola isn’t behaving quite like herself. Her granddaughter Bett fears she’s depressed, but the truth is, after most of a lifetime spent in Australia, Lola is longing to see Ireland again. And so before Bett knows it, the tickets have been…

I love Japan. My beloved and I just returned from a 10-day visit to the Land of the Rising Sun and, although we only saw one rising sun (which is a story for another day), we had a great time enjoying the commonly referenced highlights of this fine country: politeness, bullet trains and toilet seats with more controls than the flight deck of a spaceship. But it wasn’t all Hello Kitty and sushi. No. There was one constant that cast something of a pall over our trip: I became acutely aware of my bigness. The fact that I’m 188cm tall and just as round hasn’t really been an issue in New Zealand. I guess our country was developed with consideration to plenty of swarthy farming stock of similar size to…