Innholdsfortegnelse for 1752 i New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Christmas with your future in-laws can be challenging at the best of times, but for Meghan Markle, this festive season could be a true test of her mettle. Prince Harry’s fiancée has been invited to spend her first ever Christmas with the royal family at Sandringham, breaking their tradition of only including newcomers once they’ve got a wedding ring on their finger. It’s a great honour for Meghan (36), who was apparently invited at Harry’s insistence. “Now they are engaged, it was unthinkable that they would be apart for Christmas,” says a friend of Harry’s. But spending three days with the Queen, Prince Philip, and their offspring and grandchildren could be nerve-wracking for the American actress. Although she met most of Harry’s family before their engagement was announced last month,…

Brendan O’Carroll does his unmistakable mischievous chuckle as he chats with the Weekly on the phone from Scotland, where the top-secret Mrs Brown’s Boys Christmas special is being filmed. “This is going to sound silly,” Brendan (62) giggles, “but actually doing the TV for us is like having a couple of weeks off because we’re usually touring, so to be in Glasgow for three weeks is like having a little holiday!” Those are the words of a very busy man indeed. Twenty years on from its debut as a radio show, the BBC comedy series featuring the Irish comedian in drag has taken the world by storm, giving families across the globe a glimpse into the chaotic home of the cheeky Irish mammy Agnes Brown. And, after all, Mrs Brown's…

JENNIFER LOPEZ & ALEX RODRIGUEZ J.Lo (48) and retired baseballer Alex (42), known as A-Rod, caused a stir when they made their first public appearance as a couple at the Met Gala in May. Gushing over her beau in a recent interview, in which the pair were given the moniker “J.Rod”, Jennifer said, “He understands me in a way that no-one else could,” while Alex added, “We are very much twins.” SANDRA BULLOCK & BRYAN RANDALL Sandra (53) and Bryan (43) have gone from strength to strength this year, with recent reports the actress is planning to adopt Bryan’s 23-year-old daughter Skylar. PIPPA MIDDLETON & JAMES MATTHEWS When Pippa (34) married financier James (42) in May, the estimated $1.4 million nuptials featured her royal nephew and niece, Prince George and…

Life’s Mellow in Oz I ma Asali (31) was a busy mum with a burgeoning cosmetics company when the Weekly shared her story earlier in the year. And life has only got busier! Since we met with her, she has given birth to her second son Adrian and moved with her family to Brisbane to expand her company Mellow Cosmetics! After having her first son Ario (4), Ima knew she wanted to own her own business so she could be a stay-at-home mum and, as a make-up lover, working in cosmetics just made sense, she told us. So she began a range of cruelty-free, paraben-free and vegan cosmetics. Ima tells us Mellow is expanding internationally, through the US and Australia especially, and is stocked in larger department stores. “We have…

weekly BEAUTY When my favourite aunty celebrated her 80th birthday recently, I couldn’t help but notice how beautifully groomed and youthful her feet looked in her strappy silver sandals. It reminded me how important it is to make sure your beauty regime doesn’t stop at your ankles. Best foot forward! 1 GET RID OF HARD SKIN It’s really common to get a build-up of very hard skin where our feet are under pressure or stress, such as our toes, the balls of our feet and heels. No amount of moisturiser is going to penetrate this stubborn skin, so the best way to deal with it is to use some sort of exfoliating method to remove some of it. However, keep in mind these areas need to have some protection, so…

Always use a clean plate for barbecued food and make sure the food is thoroughly cooked. SCENARIO 1 AT THE SUPERMARKET “The most helpful signs to look for are the use-by and best-before dates,” says food safety advisor Lydia Buchtmann. “As a general rule, use-by means you should use something before the date specified and throw it out afterwards, whereas food past its best-before date can be eaten as it’s a mark of quality, not safety.” Avoid discounted products approaching the use-by date as bacteria is likely to grow faster in them. SCENARIO 2 PREPARING YOUR MEALS Cooking for large groups can be risky. “It’s crucial to be extra vigilant when handling food to prevent bacteria being introduced by cross-contamination,” explains Lydia. Hand washing is the single most important way…

BABY TALK My two-year-old granddaughter has recently developed her own language, as toddlers often do. Last week, she was very pleased to visit her aunt’s house because she has a “jumptiline” (trampoline). She also quite likes the “up-su-lators” at the local mall, although she’s not quite so keen on the “down-su-lators”. Her and me both! Nana Jean, Auckland PRETTY GOOD We know a lass who came home from her first day at school and said to her mother, “I’m the prettiest girl in my class.” Her mummy asked, “Did someone tell you?” Her reply? “Oh, no, but I saw the others.” CHH, September 5, 1960 WEATHER WITH YOU After a hot day last month, I wrote to friends in India and Sweden, mentioning that I had been swimming in the…

Christmas cheer What a fantastic lady “Grotto granny” Jenny Greener is (11.12.17). To open up her home to 200-300 people, she truly is magical. It’s great she gets donations to help with the running costs, plus she works part-time as well! All this and a wonderful husband too! How lovely it is of her to spread this Christmas joy. Marton was where my late father grew up. I hope Jenny has someone special to pamper her as well. You truly are special, Jenny. Merry Christmas! Another Gran, King Country $100 WINNING LETTER Meghan’s magic! What an interesting read “Meghan charms the crowd” (18.12.17). What a rapid rise to popularity the former Suits actress Meghan Markle has had. Her beauty and personality has charmed dashing Prince Harry and now they are…

Do you have trouble ending your emails? And texts too, for that matter. You know, where you’ve said whatever it was you wanted to say to whoever it was you wanted to say it to and you have to bid them farewell, and put your name at the bottom. And perhaps an “x”. Or perhaps not. It’s one of the mysteries of life in the modern world. Just the other day, I signed off to someone with a “fondest”, only to get a reply signed off “kindest”, which seemed a bit of a step down, a bit cooler, as if I’d gone too far with the “fondest”, which maybe I had. So when I sent her my next email, I ended with a “best”. And then there are those people…

Oh, 2017, what a r ollercoaster you have been. I know I’m not alone in saying this year has proven to be quite a ride with a few testing times, but also some really magic moments. I certainly hope it has been kind to you and your loved ones. When I look back over this year, there’s one thing that really jumps out at me on both a national and global level – and that is the voice of women. Since millions acr oss the world joined the W omen’s March in January, it feels as though we have been at the for efront. Dozens stood up to support one another during the Harvey Weinstein scandal and opened up a long over due dialogue. There were glass-ceiling moments when Cr…

Along time ago, in a palace far far away… Princes William (35) and Harry (33) couldn’t contain their excitement as they walked the red carpet for the UK premiere of Star Wars: The Last Jedi last week, and for good reason – they’re in the film! The royal brothers made a cameo appearance as Stormtroopers in the latest flick and were thrilled to be presented with their own helmets to take home! Clearly, the force was strong in London for the premiere, though William did raise eyebrows with his choice of footwear – a pair of blue velvet slippers instead of dress shoes. Of course, it’s not the first time royals have been on screen – who could forget the Queen’s turn alongside Daniel Craig in a James Bond-inspired video…

Many Hollywood actresses of a certain age don’t like to be reminded of how old they are and make it clear the subject of their advanced years is taboo. Jane Fonda is not one of them. The Oscar-winning actress is about to turn 80 and is quite happy to talk about it. “I’m so excited,” says the star of sitcom Grace and Frankie. “I never thought I’d live this long, much less still be working at this age. If you’re 20 and you don’t know how you’re going to live past 30, when you realise that you’re going to be 80, it’s like a miracle.” Jane kicked off celebrations for her birthday on December 21 with a fundraising dinner that raised $1.8m for a charity she set up to help…

SINK OR SWIM Grace in her last ever film, High Society (1956). Her actress friend Judith Balaban Quine says her pal could have had any role she desired, but was happy to give up her career. “Hollywood would have done anything she wanted but she fell in love and said, ‘Bye’.” SLEEPING BEAUTY The new book includes rare pictures of Grace, including this one on set of her 1953 movie Mogambo, which was filmed in Uganda. PARTY PRINCESS Grace catching up with her agent Jay Kanter at the prestigious Stork Club in New York. She was always immaculately groomed. MIND THE AGE GAP The star had a romance with her Mogambo co-star Clark Gable, despite the 28-year age gap, and was deeply hurt when he called it off once filming…

nici WICKES Christmas leftovers can be as spectacular as the meal itself. My recipes this week will transform what’s left of your ham, turkey, vegetables and Christmas pudding into some thrilling dishes. Lovely leftovers! Turkey & mango salad SERVES 4-6 Fresh and fabulous, turkey pairs well with juicy mango and handfuls of lovely green herbs. 3-4 cups leftover turkey, chopped 2 mangoes, peeled and cut into strips 2 spring onions, thinly sliced Handful each of fresh coriander and mint, leaves only 2 tbsp sesame seeds, lightly toasted Lettuce or cabbage leaves and lime wedges, to serve ¼ cup peanuts, roasted DRESSING 4 tbsp lemon or lime juice 1 tbsp sesame oil 1 tsp brown sugar Pinch of salt 1 Gently toss the turkey, mango, spring onions, herbs and half the…

weekly FASHION Packing to go on holiday can be a struggle and selecting the right pieces to cover all possible events, which don’t require ironing, is a must. For those reasons, try these interchangeable outfits for your next vacation. Travel in style! GO WIDE • Step away from denim for your holidaywear and embrace dramatic wide-leg pants – these tropical Country Road ones are simply divine! For a stylish lunch date or a vineyard visit, wear with some soft pink pieces to complement the print. • This Trenery stretch jacket is ideal for summer as it is lightweight. and will work equally with trousers and dresses. JACKET $229 from TRENERY. TANK $29.99 from MAX. TROUSERS $159 from COUNTRY ROAD. EARRINGS $16.99 (FOR SET) from JUST JEANS. SHOES $260 from MI…

Whip up a batch of easy face cream, how to help your plum jam set, treat your family to some toffee apples and make some refreshing old-fashioned drinks for summer barbecues. Raise your glasses! These delicious drinks are perfect for the summer barbecue season. LEMON/LIME WATER This tastes a lot like the flavoured waters you can buy and really quenches your thirst. ½ tsp citric acid 4 tsp sugar 1 litre ice-cold water Juice of 1 lime or lemon Add the ingredients to the ice-cold water, then slice up the squeezed lemon or lime and throw in as well. Great for the morning after celebrations! Time taken: 5 minutes. SUN TEA 4 herbal tea bags (I use fruit or berry mixes) 1 litre water Lemon, to serve Find a glass…

There’s nothing like someone else’s creativity to make you look at some plants differently. When I saw a motel transformed by bromeliads, I had to admit they looked amazing. And I’ve always hated bromeliads. Live and learn! When Bill and Paul Schwass bought the oldest motel in Kerikeri to transform into boutique accommodation, they used what Bill calls “the old cliché of paint and plant” to bring it into the present day. It worked and Stay Kerikeri was recently named the best redeveloped accommodation in New Zealand’s premier hospitality awards. They bought the property three years ago – a tired motel with not much more garden than a lawn, a few elderly plants and two existing bangalow palms. They ran it for a year, worked out what they were going…

CAPRICORN Dec 23 – Jan 20 While everyone else is indulging in the festive spirit, you may end up working harder than ever, or finding yourself in touch with someone who needs you or your expertise. Do it with a smile. Knowing you, you’ll go beyond the call of duty – and there will be a very nice reward in store. AQUARIUS Jan 21 – Feb 19 Stick to your plan. There are those who would like you to make some last-minute changes to your arrangements, but you will give them a firm “no”. Do not even think twice about turning them down. It is not often you get time to do exactly what you want, so be confident in your convictions. PISCES Feb 20 – Mar 20 Let people…

‘And every year the tree was almost swamped with colourfully wrapped gifts. But not this year’ This Christmas, I’m being a grinch. Well, that’s not strictly true. I haven’t gone full grinch. We’re still having a Christmas dinner. And I’ll probably dust the fireplace and put out the Nativity figurines, complete with the three-legged sheep, over the weekend. But there’ll be no tree this year. My attempt to decorate the tree last year was an abject disaster. That was always a job for Kate from the time she was little and if she’s not here, it just doesn’t feel right. I don’t have her eye for balanced colour and design. It was looking pretty pathetic anyway but then when I attempted to drape the baubles and beads around it, it…

‘There is just no grounds not to value women’s contributions or to treat them disgracefully’ Dame Jenny Shipley’s coffee table tells you a lot about New Zealand’s first female prime minister. A copy of A History of New Zealand Women lies at the bottom of a pile of heavy books, along with a paperback entitled You Have the Power to Change Stuff. Next to these is a catalogue for Kiwi designer Paula Ryan and, unless we’re very much mistaken, a cheeky Danielle Steel number is poking out from underneath a pile of magazines. Then there’s the rest of her elegant Auckland apartment – an eclectic collection of treasures take up many of the shelves, such as a gorgeous blue bowl gifted to her by former US President Bill Clinton. And…

He has lived an extraordinarily full life as one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, but Kirk Douglas is also proving to be one of the longest-living legends in the world, blowing out the candles on his 101st birthday cake last weekend. The Spartacus star celebrated the day in the Beverly Hills home he shares with his wife of more than 60 years, Anne (98), surrounded by family. His son, Oscar winner Michael (73), flew in from New York for a quick visit before returning home to be near his eldest son Cameron (38), who was on tenterhooks waiting for the arrival of his baby daughter, making Kirk a great-grandfather. Michael’s wife Catherine Zeta-Jones (48) stayed in New York, but sang Happy Birthday to him using the video-calling service FaceTime. She also…

‘I am a terrible celebrity. If I started my career today, I wouldn’t have a chance’ There used to be a time when Meg Ryan was box-office gold – the undisputed queen of romantic comedies. Dubbed “America’s sweetheart”, the actress went from one hit movie to another and it seemed like she was set to be a permanent fixture in Hollywood. And then she all but vanished, surfacing only occasionally to appear in unremarkable productions. Nowadays, we tend to hear more about the Sleepless in Seattle star’s on-off romance with rock star John Mellencamp (66) than we do about her career. The couple – who have taken two major relationship breaks since getting together in 2011 – reunited again earlier this year and according to recent reports, are on the…

This week, take a trip down memory lane to 1973 with this bumper Teacups special, where each submission that was published earnt $1 (about $16 in today’s money!). Over the Teacups has always been one of our readers’ favourite sections of the Weekly – and don’t forget you can still submit your own! Find details on page 78. Down on the farm avec les moutons! Enjoyed entertaining a visitor from Paris (France) recently, but had a few translation difficulties. Showing her around the farm, I introduced her to the sheep dogs, then to the sheep. “Just sheep?” she asked. “No, not ‘just sheep’; ‘sheep sheep’,” I explained. “Oh.” She sounded unconvinced. If sheep can be dogs, they must be... oh, well. Then we inspected the rams and the bulldozer in…

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‘In high temperatures, sweating alone isn’t enough to keep you cool’ While sunny days are fun, rising temperatures and humidity levels can play havoc with your health. “While you might think you’re prepared to handle the heat, it actually takes more thought and planning than you realise,” says Dr Magdalena Simonis. “Spending too much time in the sun not only increases your chance of sunburn but also your risk of heat-related illnesses, exposure to biting insects and dehydration.” Happily, you can enjoy summer to the fullest – just listen to your body’s cues and take precautions. Sunburn  PROBLEM: Sunburn can occur in less than 15 minutes and depending on the severity may take many weeks to heal completely. The symptoms include redness, skin that feels hot to the touch, pain or…

If you’ve been going to the same medical practice for years, but feel during your appointment you’re being rushed, neglected or not taken seriously, it might be time to look for help elsewhere. The right treatment! Can you leave your GP and register with another without giving good reason? And is there a cost involved in switching? There is no requirement for you to provide a reason for changing doctors. Simply find a new one who you feel comfortable with and request the new practice to advise your former GP that you wish your files to be transferred. To do that, you will need to sign a form for the new practice to forward. I would recommend, once you have moved, you send a brief email to your former doctor…

SUMMER FEET The Scholl Express Pedi Electronic Foot File gently removes hard skin, leaving you with smooth feet. Using abrasive particles, the roller’s surface removes hard skin quickly and thoroughly for effective results. Available at selected supermarkets and pharmacies. RRP $49.99. MORE THAN A CAR The always crowd-pleasing Ford Focus is now better than ever with sleek, modern styling, voice control, a zippy and efficient engine, and a 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating. It’s more than just a car – it effortlessly merges stylish design with innovation and convenience. Test drive the Ford Focus today to experience it for yourself. Visit ford.co.nz for more. REFRESHINGLY FEMININE We know that many women have various lotions and potions to care for the different areas of their bodies, but what about their intimate…

This book has a serious point to make and does so stridently. It tells of the unhappy plight of foreign domestic workers in Singapore and, while fictional, is very much based on fact. The two maids at the centre of the story, Dolly and Tala, are sisters. Both have left the rest of their families behind in the Philippines, and are supporting them with money they earn cooking and cleaning for expats. Life for these women is tough. They have no rights, work long hours and sleep in broom cupboards. Every six months, they have to take a pregnancy test and if it’s positive, they’re deported. Their employers can take away their passports and set up cameras to spy on them. And some maids don’t even get enough to eat.…

WINDSORS at work IT WAS A BUSY WEEK FOR THE SENIOR ROYALS IN THE LEAD UP TO THE HOLIDAYS It’s HMS Me! Her Majesty the Queen looked positively delighted to welcome yet another ship named after her into the Royal Navy last week – and why wouldn’t you be if you got a cake like that? The Queen (91), along with Princess Anne (67), were on hand for the pomp and pageantry of the commissioning ceremony for the $6 billion warship, which is affectionately called “Big Lizzie” by her sailors. It was a busy week for the entire royal family in the lead up to Christmas, with Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall (70) spotted admiring some holiday arts and crafts, while her husband Prince Charles (69) took care of the official business,…