Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 37, 2021 i New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Fashion designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana are known for creating awe-inspiring garments, but with their latest fashion show, it wasn’t just the couture that had jaws on the floor. Last week, the fashion house invited some of the world’s most famous faces to Venice for a three-day spectacle to debut their new Alta Moda collection. There were fancy launch parties and elegant sit-down dinners, but the main event was truly the runway show in the iconic St Mark’s Square. The 400-person guest list included Jennifer Lopez, 52, Dame Helen Mirren, 76, and Sharon Stone, 63. And as they arrived in their custom couture garments, it was hard to tell who was a model on the runway and who was a mere spectator! Jennifer Hudson, 39, kicked the show off…

If Windsor does become home to Kate and her family, there are a couple of royal residences that might be suitable for them. One is Fort Belvedere, in Windsor Great Park, which is owned by the Crown. Built in 1750, its most notable resident was Prince Edward, who later ruled for a very short time as Edward VIII before abdicating in 1936. After he moved to France with his wife Wallis Simpson, subsequent owners modernised it into an eight-bedroom home with servants’ quarters. It comes with a lake, tennis court, swimming pool and three cottages, and is set on about 59 acres of land, almost half of which is woods. The only issue with Fort Belvedere is that the lease is currently owned by Canadian billionaire Galen Weston, who is…

Actor Bill Nighy and fashion icon Anna Wintour have set tongues wagging after cosying up for a romantic rendezvous in Rome – but the pair have yet to confirm if it really is love actually! Bill arrived for the couple’s date at the restaurant Pierluigi in the Italian capital on August 26, carrying a posy of red roses. And Anna even ditched her signature sunglasses for the night, with onlookers saying she listened intently to the Pirates of the Caribbean star as they talked into the night. The high-profile pair, both 71, have often been seen together since striking up a friendship in 2010. But sources say they’ve become even closer since the Vogue editor-in-chief, who was the inspiration behind the blockbuster movie The Devil Wears Prada, split from her…

It’s been done for Freddie Mercury, Sir Elton John, Tina Turner and now Aretha Franklin. But don’t expect Barbra Streisand to give the green light for a movie about her life. The music legend, who has also had a highly successful career as an actress and director, understands why her story of going from a poverty-stricken childhood to becoming a worldwide superstar would translate well to the big screen, but she doesn’t want to see it herself. “No, no, no, no,” she says, adding another emphatic, “No!” for good measure. “After I’m gone. Not while I’m alive.” The Way We Were singer says she would hate to see her life adapted to fit into a movie narrative and any parts of it portrayed inaccurately as a result. However, if somebody…

It was a proud moment when Sana Ditta stood at a ceremony in Christchurch to welcome new refugees arriving in New Zealand last year, surrounded by dozens of teddy bears for the children. As the 24-year-old navigated language barriers to present the stuffed animals to their young new owners, she watched with a quiet smile as the children began naming them. “Red Cross invited me to their ceremony, where all the refugee families get together as their first step for arriving in New Zealand, and I was able to hand teddy bears out,” tells Sana, founder of The Teddy Project, a nonprofit that has fundraised $3000 towards teddies for refugee children. “As a kid, you want something special to hang on to.” Among the people at the welcoming ceremony was…

Mangoes are a good source of vitamins C, A, B6 and K, and potassium. Almonds contain vitamin E, protein, iron and copper, as well as healthy unsaturated fats. Papaya, turmeric and cinnamon are all good for reducing inflammation. Banana is rich in potassium. Flaxseed oil, rich in omega 3, is helpful for joint lubrication. Watercress, a peppery green belonging to the cress family, may be small in size, but it packs a big nutritional punch. Use as soon as possible after purchase as it’s highly perishable. Pineapple is a low-calorie fruit, rich in vitamins C and A, and contains the proteolytic enzyme bromelain that aids in the digestion of food and has anti-inflammatory and anti-clotting properties.…

Zoom tops Keep your workwear focus from the waist up with a Zoom-worthy top. Look for styles with collar interest and fun sleeves for an interesting point of difference. Opt for vibrant prints that won’t strobe on camera, so steer clear of stripes. Slouchy bottoms Look for relaxed-fit styles with looser legs and elastic waists, which make them ideal for working from home. Softer textiles are easier and more comfortable for wearing around the house. Must-have accessory Wearing a mask is now part of our daily life. Be kind to the environment and swap your disposables for a reusable one that can also add some glamour to your ensemble. There are so many options to choose from, including styles that come with removable filters or even ones…

Those snapshots the internet gives us of our collective curiosity are illuminating. As the nation was plunged into lockdown last month, the thing we googled most was whether liquor stores would be open in level 4. If I’m staying at home, we wanted to know, can I have a vodka? In our next searches, we asked about supermarkets and laundromats, then the level 4 rules in general, followed by the likelihood of wage subsidies and locations of Covid-19 testing stations. That is a fine encapsulation of our fundamental human desires – booze, food, cleanliness, behavioural requirements, money and health. One might quibble over the order of our priorities, for sure, but we’ve got it all covered. While everyone else was searching liquor store rules, I was looking for my track…

Auntie chatter Wee niece, who lives with us, had gone with her mother for a holiday. I rang my sister one day while she was away and, after conversing with sister for a few minutes, asked if I could speak to my niece, Miss Four. When the latter came to the phone and said “Hello, Auntie!” I asked her what she was doing, fully expecting an answer such as playing or riding her tricycle, but, no, she very politely said, “I’m talking to you on the phone.” Elizabeth Party lines Children certainly do say some quaint things and get the wrong meanings. Here are some howlers gleaned from the small fry during the election campaign. One little boy asked, “What are candidates, Mum? Can you eat them like candy-peel?” Heading…

NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THIS ABOUT ME, BUT I’M VERY GOOD AT… Growing grass, as in lawn grass. A strange talent I know, but I recently got a golden retriever dog who has a thing for digging holes. So, it’s a recently acquired talent. IF I COULD PASS ANY LAW, IT WOULD BE… To make women’s sanitary products free. Or at least prescription-based, like birth control, w where you pay $$5 a month to have your prescription filled. Period poverty iis not something that affects only teenage girls. MY GREATEST WEAKNESS IS… The vending machine iin our building! When you get up at 4.30 every morning, by 6.30 I’m starving and my planned healthy breakfast is never enough. And the vending machine stocks bite-size Squiggles and Toffee Pops.…

Just wild about you! With no pooch of her own, Jane Seymour, 70, cuddles up to her furry Harry Wild co-star in Ireland. Dog squad When heiress Paris Hilton, 40, is your mummy, every day is a treat – her pups have their very own mansion, designer duds and Birkin handbags. R.I.P. Polly Kelly Osbourne, 36, here with dad Ozzy, 72, remembers her beloved Pomeranian Polly, who sadly passed away earlier this year, sharing, “She has been by my side for six years. I do not know how to go on without her.” He’s been her companion for 11 years and Rachel Hunter, 51, credits Babee for getting her through the pandemic. “The unconditional love given is divine and incredible,” she says. FRENCH KISSING While her husband Carl doesn’t like…

Another week of lockdown has passed and as always, I hope you and your family are safe and well. My household has adjusted pretty smoothly, probably because we are a little more used to it now. I had the best of intentions, prioritising exercise, healthy eating and even setting some personal goals to achieve when the announcement was made. I found a 30-day Pilates challenge on YouTube and I was up at 6am feeling very pleased with myself... for eight days! After reading the health section this week, I’m feeling motivated again, but I also realise that we need to be realistic with ourselves during these uncertain times. Some days I’m a whirlwind of energy and checking off each item on my to-do list, while other days, I get through…

An updated version of a tell-all book about Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex has dropped even more bombshells. Finding Freedom, which originally came out last year, has just been re-released with an epilogue that covers recent events, such as the couple’s controversial interview with Oprah Winfrey in March. Among the claims made by the authors, Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, is the fact that the couple considered naming the royal they alleged made a racist remark before the birth of their son Archie, two. However, they decided that revealing that person’s identity would be “very damaging to them” so they kept quiet. ‘Harry has spoken on many occasions to his brother William’ The book also says Meghan found the Oprah interview to be very “cathartic” and “liberating” but…

She’s walked the most famous runways in the world and been the face of countless brands, but new mum Naomi Campbell has revealed her career success has come at the cost of her love life. “I’d say the sacrifice is really finding that soulmate who will understand you,” the 51-year-old admits. “It’s really like you feel if they look at you as if you’re strong… you know, I’m strong, but I’m also sensitive. I know that in relationships, I have to compromise.” Over the years, Naomi has had her fair share of high-profile relationships. Her list of suitors includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro and One Direction star Liam Payne. She has also been engaged twice to U2 bassist Adam Clayton and Italian businessman Flavio Briatore.…

Mike Edward has carved out a name for himself as the go-to bad guy of Kiwi TV. The blond-haired, blue-eyed actor has played marriage-wrecker Adam in Nothing Trivial, a business bully who threw a woman off a balcony in Filthy Rich and, of course, sexual assaulter Zac Smith in Shortland Street. And although his back-to-back roles as the evil cad of New Zealand television means he has copped some serious flak from the general public, Mike sees it as nothing more than a sincere compliment of his acting talents. “I remember once, when someone was serving me a croissant at a bakery in Taupo¯, they told me that I was a horrible man. But to be honest, I’d rather have people believe that than think I was a bad actor,”…

They were just an average Aussie family with grown children, but they captured the hearts of many Down Under and now, eight years after Packed to the Rafters said its final farewell, it’s set to return to screens. And Erik Thomson, who plays the family patriarch Dave, can’t quite believe it’s finally here. “It’s kind of surreal, actually,” the 54-year-old tells the Weekly. “There was always talk about doing something after the show ended, but it always came to nothing. “There were lots of hugs in the read-through and we were pinching ourselves, not fully believing that it was actually happening.” The show followed emptynesters Dave and Julie Rafter as their home filled up as one by one their adult children moved home. The new six-part series Back to the…

One-pan triple choc brownie SERVES 16 PREP + COOK TIME 1 HOUR 15 MINS 150g butter, chopped 300g dark chocolate (70% cocoa), chopped 12/3 cups (370g) brown sugar ¾ cup (110g) plain flour ¼ cup (35g) self-raising flour 3 eggs, lightly beaten ½ cup (120g) sour cream 2 teaspoons vanilla essence 180g white chocolate, chopped 100g milk chocolate, chopped 1 Preheat oven to 180°C. Lightly grease a 20cm x 30cm slice pan with baking paper. Line base and sides with baking paper, extending paper 2cm over sides. 2 Stir butter and 200g dark chocolate in a large saucepan over low heat until melted. Remove from heat and cool slightly. 3 Stir in sugar, then combined sifted flour. Stir in combined eggs, sour cream and vanilla. Gently stir through ¾ of…

Bring instant relief to dry and tight skin with (1) Scully’s Lavender Bath & Body Oil, $25.90. Used in the bath or directly on skin, its nourishing formula is rich in almond oil and essential lavender oil. It protects the skin’s elasticity and leaves your body feeling velvety soft. Get your spa day on a roll with the freezable (2) Flawless Finishing Touch Ice Roller, $53. Designed for your face, neck and body, it aims to de-puff and calm skin. Formulated with finely ground coffee beans, sea salt and sweet almond oil, (3) Bean Body Bee My Manuka Body Scrub, $23, gently exfoliates for silky smooth skin. A few spritzes of (4) Ecoya Room Spray in Lotus Flower, $29.95, will transform your home into a Balinese spa in seconds. Freshen…

Are you waking in the night with a knot in your stomach or finding yourself unexpectedly teary? The uncertainty of our Covid lockdowns can make us anxious. Auckland-based naturopath and nutritionist Jess Blair from Wellness by Blair (@jessblair_) has some tips on how to thrive in lockdown – and beyond. Close the stress cycle Even when there is no imminent threat of danger, stress can make us feel like we’re constantly in fight or flight mode. Help alleviate stress by working out or enjoying a creative outlet. In non-lockdown times, enjoy connection and affection – a long hug and a good laugh with loved ones or a friend. But at the moment, a good laugh with a pal over Zoom will do! PRIORITISE YOUR SLEEP I know it’s tempting to…

VIRGO Aug 24 – Sep 23 Just because you want to do something creative does not mean you have the time for it! It means that you need to get things done at the beginning of the week, clear all the outstanding work and, more importantly, do not commit to anything else! This way you will have time to indulge that creative project and achieve something amazing. The important message is to get everything finished so you can do what you want to do. LIBRA Sep 24 – Oct 23 You can sometimes be a little too conscientious. It is better to only do what needs to be done and take some time out to rest. Looking after yourself is the most important thing now. Watch your health and wellbeing…

I decided to take up baking, though I wish I hadn’t because it turns out I’m pretty useless at it. Which is surprising, given that I come from a line of great bakers – my mother and my grandmother for two. But I’m wondering, if I’m allowed to wonder such a thing, whether the baking gene is passed down for effective use only on the female side? Which would be a bit annoying, though I am okay at pikelets, even if pikelets aren’t really part of the baking world. My Auckland grandchildren can’t get enough of my pikelets. I used to make them pancakes when they came over, but I could never get ahead of the kids’ appetites with pancakes. Pikelets are easier. I even get to have one myself…

House of horrors A holiday home is revealing guests’ darkest secrets Buckle up for a twisty and tense ride. J.P. Pomare’s latest novel takes us inside the world of the dark web and it’s rivetingly scary stuff. The Last Guests is a secret surveillance story about creepy strangers watching someone’s every move. But just as importantly, it’s also about an ordinary couple having a tough time. Aucklanders Lina and Cain are dreaming of starting a family, but struggling to conceive. Lina is a paramedic while Cain is a former SAS soldier who was badly injured fighting in Afghanistan and is now having diffi culties adjusting to civilian life. They have money worries. So when friends suggest they rent out Lina’s holiday cottage at Lake Tarawera using an online site called…

Age is just a number – at least if you’re Iris Apfel. The style icon celebrated her 100th birthday last week and even though she is in the triple digits, she has no intention of retiring just yet. “I don’t plan to slow down anytime soon. I’m constantly looking for new ways to express my personal style, improvise and take chances,” Iris says. “I plan to keep challenging myself and opening new doors in the years ahead.” Born in New York in 1921, Iris grew up during the Great Depression. As a child, she would spend her weekends riding the subway and exploring antique stores across the Big Apple. Her impressive jewellery collection began with a 65-cent brooch she saved for months to buy. Though she’s known for her fashion…

Mamma Mia, here they go again! It’s been almost 40 years since Swedish hitmakers ABBA released a new song – now they’re set to release a whole album! And not only that, the beloved ’70s supergroup is also preparing to launch a startling new stage show in which avatars of themselves in their heyday – cutely named Abbatars – will perform all of their greatest hits. The news is music to the ears of fans all over the world, who’ve been hoping for a reunion since the four members of the band – Agnetha Fältskog, 71, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, 75, Benny Andersson, 74, and Björn Ulvaeus, 76 – went their separate ways in 1982. Björn says stepping back into the studio was like stepping back in time. “We’re really, really good…

Host of NewstalkZB’s drive show, journalist and broadcaster Heather du Plessis-Allan, 36, takes a moment during lockdown to have a chat over a cuppa about her life, her childhood growing up in a commune and the one thing she cannot live without. What is the best thing about your life at the moment? I think everything. My mum [Elizabeth du Plessis] is part of our bubble and she was sitting here with me this weekend pointing out all the good things about my life. Sometimes we can be at risk of focusing on the negative, but I have a fantastic husband [political editor Barry Soper], a fantastic family – I love my brothers and my mum, and I have a wonderful job which is constantly stimulating. Naturally, I’m there on…

Mango & almond smoothie PREP TIME 5 MINUTES SERVES 2 1 large mango (600g), chopped coarsely, plus extra to serve ¼ cup (30g) ground almonds 1 cup (250ml) milk ½ cup (140g) yoghurt 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 tablespoon lime juice 2 teaspoons honey, plus extra to serve Crushed ice (see tip) Lime rind, optional 1 Blend ingredients in a blender until smooth. 2 Serve over crushed ice topped with a little honey, extra finely chopped mango and shredded lime rind. Tip: Use frozen mango or drained canned mango in natural juice, if fresh is not available. Blend ice with ingredients for a thicker smoothie. For a dairy-free version, use soy, rice, coconut or nut milk, and soy or coconut yoghurt. Banana papaya smoothie PREP TIME 5 MINUTES (+ FREEZING)…

September is the month to enjoy the garden. Cut flowers for the house or peek at neighbours’ gardens from a safe distance on your walks! Repot your indoor plants and prepare for summer by looking after your grass, and plant seedlings for Christmas colour. Pull those weeds out as soon as you see them as they can quickly take over in spring. In the vege patch WEEK 1 Growing peas or broad beans? If you can’t wait for the harvest, snip off the young shoots to eat. They’re great in stir-fries. WEEK 2 Grow edible flowers such as viola, salvia, calendula, nasturtium and lavender for extra-pretty garnishes. WEEK 3 Try distracting aphids with a magnet plant (try chives) to make them easier to kill and attract them away from the…

I’ve a funny story to relate. A few weeks ago, I heard a radio jock tell his listeners he’d had a few drinks downtown, spotted me and took a selfie of us both. He was delighted. He’d always been a Fair Go fan and was impressed how relaxed I was about the photo. Next morning, seeing more clearly, he looked at the photo again and realised it wasn’t me. It wasn’t anyone he knew. When I heard this, I laughed and laughed. Have you ever asked anyone for a selfie, only to find out they weren’t who you thought they were? I have more the opposite problem. I’ve spent time with wonderful and famous people and never thought to get a selfie. Actually, they were mostly before the days of…

Letters to the Editor HOLLYWOOD BATTLER • Winning letter You have no idea how ecstatic I was when I found the Weekly at the local dairy! (I’d been avoiding the supermarket because of Covid). Reading about Christina Applegate’s diagnosis of MS, on top of breast cancer, my heart went out to this courageous woman. Christina shared what a huge impact having a double mastectomy had on her. I lost my mother and sister to breast cancer, and like Christina, decided to have a double mastectomy. I never shed a single tear, and 11 years later and cancer-free, I feel very glad I made the decision to have my breasts removed. I’ve never felt less of a woman and don’t give the absence of breasts a second thought. What matters is…

I found myself clicking on a link through to the Myers-Briggs personality test when I got home from work the other day. I was reading newspapers online, trying to find a story that could generate a discussion on talkback that didn’t revolve around Covid. I clicked on one from The Guardian about how the test had changed the life of the writer. It’s years since I’ve done the Myers-Briggs. I remember it was all the go when I first started work, but that was a long time ago and I’d completely forgotten what I was. As it turned out, I’m an Entertainer. Someone who gets caught up in the excitement of each moment and wants others to feel the same. Entertainers are witty, fun and playful, but they’re also poor…