Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2016 i The Australian Women's Weekly

THE WEEKLY turns 83 this year and even in that very first issue back in 1933, the front page proudly campaigned for “Equal Social Rights for Sexes”. While a lot has changed, it’s hard to believe that we are still having to battle for equality in many industries. Jockey Michelle Payne captured hearts when she raced to victory on the back of Prince of Penzance at the Melbourne Cup. She used her winner’s speech to highlight the chauvinism at the heart of the sport and a collective cheer went up around the nation’s stables. “They think women aren’t strong enough, but we just beat the world,” trumpeted Michelle. It’s nearly 40 years since women were granted professional riding licences and yet only two Aussie female jockeys (four if you…

IN A VENN diagram of the lives of Mariah Carey and James Packer, there are at least eight major intersections: money; fame; casinos; power; broken marriages; children; music; and a close friendship with Hollywood film producer Brett Ratner. So really, on paper, we shouldn’t have experienced that collective what-the-heck moment when pictures emerged of the Australian billionaire strolling hand-in-hand with the singing superstar in Capri last June. Was this one giant publicity stunt to boost ticket sales for Mariah’s Las Vegas shows? Was James trying to raise his profile in the US, where he owns a film company and casino assets? Or could James and Mariah, with two failed marriages apiece, actually have found in each other their Dreamlover? Fast forward seven surreal months – during which the couple holidayed…

SURE, I’VE TIDIED before, but Marie Kondo promises this time will be different. I pore over her latest book, Spark Joy, and I’m pumped. “Life truly begins,” she writes, “only after you have put your house in order.” I look around at my paltry half-life – littered with spare buttons, mysterious electrical cords and Happy Meal figurines – and decide I need discipline. Kondo is the woman for the job. Named one of Time’s 100 most influential people of 2015, the decluttering dominatrix has become an international phenomenon since the release of her brutally prescriptive best-seller, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. The 2014 book has inspired a dramatic uptick in op-shop donations and the Japanese author is even a verb – as in, “I took a day off to…

In order to prevent long-term eye conditions, such as a squint or a lazy eye, optometrists recommend that all children have their first eye test before they turn eight. Yet a recent study* revealed that almost half of Australian parents overlook this crucial milestone – with nearly a third of parents never having taken their child for an eye test, regardless of age. That’s almost 1.5 million children left unchecked. Getting regular eye testing for kids as they grow. As kids spend more time using technology such as computers and smartphones, Specsavers recommends that all parents have their children’s eyes tested every two years at least, regardless of physical symptoms. Bring your kids in for an eye test. Problems with sight which go undetected can have a profound effect on…

But I’ve tried it all! You may think you've tried everything - from volumisers to new diets - to remedy the condition. And now you're self conscious and you're frustrated. You'll be reassured to hear that you're a member of a large and ever growing club. Introducing Women’s REGAINS® Women's REGAINEX is the first and only clinically proven foam treatment to regrow hair in woment. Applied just once a day, Women's REGAINEII is a no-fuss foam that couldn't be easier to fit into your daily hair care routine. Clinically proven results In a clinical study, eight out of ten women who used REGAINEW Foam reactivated hair follicles and regrew hair!' Not only that, results showed the new hair grew up to 48% thicker. Women’s REGAINE®…

River cruising is a fantastic way to see some of the world’s great cities. But with so many wonderful destinations and adventures to choose from, it can be hard to know where to start. That’s where the knowledgeable and experienced team at helloworld can help. From the time you first make contact until you step off the cruise, every moment of your holiday will be carefully attended to so you can get the most out of it. Relax in luxury, knowing it has all been taken care of. Quiz the knowledgeable tour guides and tailor your experience for the perfect mix of leisure and sightseeing. Disembark daily to take in the local sights and, at the end of every day, relax in 5-star luxury accommodation. 1. Salzburg (Salzach), Austria The…

Get the look: AMY SCHUMER Get Amy Schumer’s look with an all-white maxi dress. For extra glamour, try wearing it with a bold, red lip. Complete with white heels and a clutch. Tunic dresses A dress that takes you from desk to dinner, the tunic is an autumn essential. This relaxed shape can be worn over skinny pants or on its own as a statement piece. Boden’s styles feature bold prints, with side panelling for a slimming effect. LABEL LOVE: BEME Bohemian style is still going strong and Beme’s colourful collection of gypsy prints, textured cover-ups and retro denim is designed to be worn interchangeably. Online British clothing retailer NEXT specialises in easy-to-wear jeans with hidden panels that hold in your tummy and clever seaming to lift up your bottom,…

Oils have been hailed for centuries as the skin’s natural answer to everlasting youth. And now, Palmer’s launches their Ultra Gentle Facial Cleansing Oil. It’s a modern take on traditional beauty treatments, and the first available at an affordable price. Oils are loaded with anti-oxidants (that means using them will help skin look younger for longer), while immediately boosting hydration and radiance to create a fresh, healthy and glowing complexion. Palmer’s Multi-Effect Perfecting Facial Oil is a blend of cocoa butter, nine anti-ageing oils, retinol, resveratrol and Vitamin E. This packs a powerful anti-oxidant punch, protecting skin from free radicals and helping to brighten your complexion. Palmer’s NEW Ultra Gentle Facial Cleansing Oil uses a combination of eight natural oils. It emulsifies into a gentle foam on contact with water…

Zika danger The World Health Organization has declared a public health emergency over the epidemic of Zika virus infections in South America, Costa Rica and Jamaica. Zika virus is spread primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito, but also through sexual contact. If symptoms occur, they are fever, rash, joint and muscle pain, and conjunctivitis. It has been linked to microcephaly (underdeveloped brain) in babies of infected women and the neurological disease Guillain-Barre syndrome. There is no vaccine or treatment. Women who are planning pregnancy or are pregnant are advised not to travel to affected areas. For further advice, visit smartraveller.gov.au/bulletins/zika_virus. Q Is Greek yogurt healthier than regular yogurt? S.S., Vic. It depends what health outcome you are looking for. Greek yogurt is thicker and creamier because extra…

Hot cross buns MAKES 12 LARGE BUNS PREP AND COOK TIME ABOUT 2 HOURS 45 MINUTES 1 cup (250ml) milk 1½ tablespoons (50g) honey 2½ tablespoons oil (grapeseed or vegetable) 50g butter, chopped 1 cup (250ml) apple or pear juice, at room temperature 7g sachet dry yeast 1 egg ¾ cup (120g) currants ¾ cup (120g) sultanas ¼ cup (60g) crystallised ginger, chopped 51/3 cups (800g) bread flour 2 teaspoons mixed spice 2 teaspoons salt beaten egg, to glaze FLOUR PASTE 2/3 cup (100g) plain flour 1 teaspoon caster sugar 1/3 cup (80ml) water, approximately SPICE GLAZE 1/3 cup (75g) caster sugar ¼ cup (60ml) water 1 teaspoon mixed spice 1 Place the milk in a small saucepan; bring to the boil, then remove from heat and add the honey,…

“Chocolate and pear prove why they’re such a winning combination in this grown-up dessert, drizzled in rich chocolate.” Chocolate chestnut pear cake with chocolate sauce SERVES 10 PREP AND COOK TIME 1 HOUR 40 MINUTES 3 eggs 1 cup (250ml) vegetable oil 1½ cups (330g) brown sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 cups (300g) chestnut flour 1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon ¼ teaspoon ground allspice 2 large (500g) semi-ripe pears, peeled, cored, chopped 100g dark chocolate, chopped ice-cream, to serve CHOCOLATE SAUCE 2/3 cup (70g) cocoa powder, sifted ½ cup (175g) golden syrup ¾ cup (165g) caster sugar 1 cup (250g) hot water ¼ teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 Preheat oven to 160°C (140°C fan-forced). Grease a 23cm springform cake…

Baked sweet potatoeswith chilli mince SERVES 4 PREP AND COOK TIME 1 HOUR 10 MINUTES 4 small (800g) kumara (orange sweet potatoes) 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 bunch fresh coriander 1 clove garlic, chopped finely 1 medium (150g) onion, chopped finely 2 teaspoons smoked paprika 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1 teaspoon dried chilli flakes 300g beef mince 400g can diced tomatoes ½ cup (125ml) sour cream 1 Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan-forced). 2 Take one large piece of foil and place the sweet potatoes in the centre. Rub 1 tablespoon of the oil over the sweet potatoes and season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Wrap the foil around the sweet potatoes and place the parcel on to a baking tray. Bake for 1 hour…

THE BETTE DAVIS CLUB BY JANE LOTTER, LAKE UNION PUBLISHING. What’s not to love about an easy, breezy novel starring a witty 50-something beauty chasing a runaway bride from Palm Springs to Chicago in a candy apple red vintage MG? Margo Just is in hot pursuit of her thoughtless niece. She’s also chasing gin martinis, stopping only to compete in a lesbian Samba competition and to swipe a forgotten Orson Welles screenplay. It’s a lot of fun, especially if you love classic films, classic cars and classic cocktails. Author Jane Lotter must have been quite a woman. Sadly, she died of cancer not long after self-publishing the book. It quickly proved popular and has since been re-published with a touching introduction from her daughter The Bette Davis Club is not…

INGRID PYNE James Packer’s whirlwind courtship of Mariah Carey has baffled the country since the two were first snapped together in Italy last year. For her story on page 22, Ingrid spoke to more than a dozen of the couple’s friends to find out how – and why – Australia’s casino king is gambling his happiness on America’s pop princess. Ingrid began writing for The Australian Women’s Weekly in early 2010, after lengthy stints at The Australian Financial Review, The Times of London and The West Australian. BEVERLEY HADGRAFT Growing up, Beverley was horse-mad and her favourite book was National Velvet. So when Michelle Payne won the Melbourne Cup, she was thrilled. Michelle’s post-victory comments, however, made Beverley wonder why we don’t see more women riding in these carnival races,…

JULY 6, 1921-MARCH 6, 2016 Nancy Reagan, the widow of former US President Ronald Reagan, was her husband’s staunchest supporter, both in office and as his caregiver after he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in 1994. Nancy was the first to notice his stumbling speech and forgetfulness and she was still at the former President’s side when he died 10 years later. Yet she will also be remembered as a fashion icon who brought style and elegance back to the White House.…

Hi Dad, I suspect all fathers, deep down, wonder what they taught their sons. Not everything you taught me was admirable (see: temper), but I know you’d approve of the two outstanding ones: humour and standing up for your beliefs. Humour. If you could have seen me with my own beautiful boy over the weekend, swapping appalling puns and often just sheer lunacy, you would have revelled in the handing down of your joyful gift. Standing up for your beliefs. After a year of hard research, during which I listened carefully to many people on all sides of the debate, I am now mounting a public argument for an assisted dying law in Australia. I will never forget watching the painful way in which you died. I know that, if…

1 The KonMari Method may seem hard – it does take time and effort – but you need to commit and believe in yourself. 2 Imagine your ideal lifestyle: Draw, write or cut out pictures to describe what kind of house you want to live in and how you want to live in it. 3 Finish discarding first: It’s impossible to stay organised if you try to store your stuff without getting rid of anything. If storage units are filled with unnecessary items, relapse is inevitable. 4 Tidy by category, not by location: People usually tidy room by room, which means they end up shuffling things around the house. Gathering in one spot every item of clothing, for example, from the entire house gives you an accurate grasp of how…

“I looked like a mature-age student at Hogwarts.” “THERE IS NOTHING more we can do,” she said. “The condition will just worsen over time. I’m sorry to be the one to tell you.” I bit my lip and stared out the window. I’d always known this day would come. For months, I’d been suffering silently, too afraid to mention the symptoms, frightened of what it would mean. But it got to the point where I could be silent no more, people were starting to notice. The writing was on the wall – it was just a shame I couldn’t read it. So here I was and there they were, and the only thing left for me to do was say, “Do these frames come in tortoiseshell and do I need…

Shot on location at Cottage Point, Sydney, on Sydney Classic Boat Charter’s MV Kalinda Halvorsen. Visit sydneyclassicboatcharters.com.au . All prices are approximate. Items available online where websites are quoted.…

5 minutes WITH ITA BUTTROSE The media icon and Priceline Pharmacy Sister chats beauty. 1 My number one beauty tip is ... to always brush your eyebrows into good shape in the morning and brush them again before bedtime with the help of a little Vaseline. 2 My daily skin routine involves ... cleansing really well at night time, particularly around my eyes to get off every bit of mascara, eyeshadow and liner. I then splash my face with warm water and pat dry before moisturising well. 3 The most common beauty mistake women make is ... wearing the same amount of make-up when they are 50+ as they did when they were only 30+. As women become older – I prefer the term “sophisticated” – less is often best…

Bring a friend: Training with a buddy is really important – just knowing they are there makes you more accountable and pushes you on. Taking the journey with a friend is really positive. Start out gently: Buy resistance tubes from sports shops as a way of beginning your strength training. These stretchy bands allow you to get a good workout and for frequent fliers they are a great way of keeping fit while travelling. Mixing it up is vital: I mix my own training up – your body adapts and then your body plateaus. You have to fight that. Try holding a weight plate while on a walking machine. It shouldn’t hurt: With any new exercise regimen, you can expect to feel tired, but you shouldn’t be in agony. You…

“I love the less bitter taste of Lipton’s new Delicately Fresh Green Tea. It’s the perfect remedy for when I’m feeling a little bit stressed or rushed, providing me with a few moments of calm.” Relish the taste Enliven your senses with the fresh, delicate and less bitter taste of Lipton’s Delicately Fresh Green Tea, a newcomer that’s like no other green tea from Lipton. Carefully blended to result in a vibrant light colour to bring you all the fragrant goodness of green tea without the bitter taste. One cup will leave you feeling recharged, refreshed and ready to take on the world! Brew for just two minutes to achieve the perfect fresh and less bitter green tea. Visit www.lipton.com.au www.facebook.com/liptontea…

Potato salad SERVES 6 PREP AND COOK TIME 45 MINUTES 1.2kg Desiree potatoes, peeled, cut into 2cm pieces ½ cup (125ml) extra virgin olive oil 1/3 cup (80ml) white wine vinegar 4 green onions (green shallots), sliced thinly 1/3 cup parsley leaves, chopped finely 1 Bring a large saucepan half-full of well-salted water to the boil over high heat. Add potatoes; adjust heat to medium and simmer gently for 10-12 minutes or until potatoes are just tender. Drain well. 2 Combine warm potatoes in a large bowl with olive oil and vinegar. Season with sea salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper; toss gently. Transfer to serving bowl and sprinkle over green onions and parsley. Not suitable to freeze or microwave. Greek salad SERVES 6 PREP TIME 15 MINUTES 4…

When it comes to celebrating life’s magical moments with family and friends, it’s no wonder that Easter is a favourite time of year. It’s a chance to bring loved ones together, decorate the house with bright festive flowers, delicate table settings and adornments, and treat everyone to delicious chocolate cakes, bunnies, eggs and more. Make moments like these even more special with a gift of Ferrero Rocher. From the classic Ferrero Eggs and Ferrero Rocher Gold Bunnies to the expertly crafted Grand Ferrero Rocher – complete with Ferrero Rocher inside – the timeless elegance of the Ferrero Easter selection is made for sharing. GOLDEN GIFT IDEAS Fill your Easter baskets with Ferrero Eggs in Hazelnut or Cocoa this year. Or why not delight with a gold-wrapped milk chocolate and hazelnut…

TOP END BUSH TUCKER The Ord Valley Muster is a food and music event likeno other, set against the magical backdrop of theKimberley. This year sees native food taking centrestage, with George Calombaris (left), well-known food critic Rob Broadfield and pioneer in the native food movement, Paul Iskov, taking charge of the culinary events. Bernard Fanning, San Cisco and Troy Cassar-Daley are the melodic icing on the cake. From May 13 to 22, tickets from ordvalleymuster.com.au. MONOCHROME KITCHEN CHIC Fashion classics never go out of style and French company Le Creuset has released a new handcrafted signature black and white collection. It includes updated design enhancements, specially developed to offer better durability, including a toughened enamel interior that’s now even more resistant to staining and dulling with dishwasher use. You’ll…

WHERE THE TREES WERE BY INGA SIMPSON, HACHETTE. Inga Simpson’s passion for the land, nature and a special sense of place is palpable and shines through every page of this engrossing third novel. You can almost feel the chill of the rushing river, smell the farmland, follow the plodding sheep and experience the almost spiritual thrill of the natural world as it enlivens Inga’s characters. Yet this is not just a book about nature, Where The Trees Were is a story about art theft, both in its original form – in this case, indigenous burial trees – but also as a daring museum heist cleverly perpetrated by our protagonist and narrator, Jay. And then, at its heart, the novel is also a story about four childhood friends whose rural idyll…

BESIDE MYSELF BY ANN MORGAN, BLOOMSBURY. Helen and Ellie are identical twins. No one can tell them apart, but the girls know they are different, for Helen has always been the leader – creator of their games – and Ellie the follower. One afternoon, Helen devises a new game: they will swap identities, just for a few hours and just for fun. Yet when Ellie refuses to swap back, Helen’s nightmare begins. Told in alternating chapters between past and present, Beside Myself forces the reader into unsettling ground, following Helen’s murky spiral into near madness. The novel is shaped around the fascinating concept: who and what is it that shapes us into the people we are? This is a deliciously dark and dysfunctional tale, and one that had me up…

Aries Mar 21-Apr 21 Radical changes to your appearance, reputation, name or image are coming in April. You will reinvent yourself successfully near the 9th and 22nd, and at last feel free to be yourself. Try to organise major financial, property or business discussions before the 14th, as from that point forward, you will hit delays, reversals or changes. If you have no choice, make sure you get things in writing in the second half of April and read the fine print. This will make your money situation in May a great deal easier. Taurus Apr 22-May 21 The Full Moon on the 22nd will show you just how far you have come in the world of love, sex and relationships since 2013. You may want to skip making decisions…

PEARL OF WISDOM “A family is like a painting – the children are the picture, the parents are the frame.” M. BOON, DAISY HILL, QLD. A call to Australians Congratulations on your courageous journalism with Island Of The Damned (WW, Mar). We are spending ridiculous amounts of money to mistreat innocent people and line the pockets of unscrupulous providers. Our country has been so blessed – why can’t we be more compassionate? Wouldn’t you risk everything for those you love? B. STONEY, MANSFIELD, VIC. A victor, not victim I would like to reply to last issue’s Letter of the Month on how divorce can supercharge your life. The writer put into words exactly what happened to me. It also took me a long time to get…

THE IDEA BEGAN with three sisters in a lounge room in Brisbane. Now, it’s grown so large that they are taking business away from their competitors. That’s how quickly a clever idea can grow with determined owners – and an injection of cash and publicity thanks to our Women in Business Awards. Kate Liddell and sisters Carly and Emma set up their business, Point to Point Education, when they returned to their home town after teaching stints in the UK. They realised there was a need for an Australian teacher placement service, sending home-grown educators to schools around the world. Now four years old, the business has gone from strength to strength since Kate’s success at the awards. “The win was huge for us,” says Kate, 36. “We’d always been…

Jbronze Gradual Tanning Cream, 150ml, $19.95. Designed for everyday use, this moisturising cream prolongs your tan and helps you keep that summer glow all year round. Elizabeth Arden Grand Entrance Mascara, 8.5ml, $42. Amplify your lashes with this triple-effect mascara, which boosts volume, length and curl. Yves Saint Laurent Instant Moisture Glow, 40ml, $79. This 72-hour moisturiser and radiance enhancer can be used alone, as a primer or after the application of foundation. Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream Blush, 50ml, $89. Filled with notes of violet leaves, rose and lily of the valley, this is a lush floral fragrance for those who enjoy a hit of freshness. Batiste Dry Shampoo in Blush and Cherry, 200ml, $9.95 each. These vibrant dry shampoos will instantly refresh hair on the go and add that…

“Fertility drops off rapidly at around 35 and sharply in the early 40s.” So, what are the options for women who are aware of their declining fertility, but are not ready to raise a child? RECENT DECADES have seen a trend for women to delay pregnancy in favour of career development and financial security, and there has also been a lot of media attention on declining fertility rates with age. As a general practitioner, I often speak to patients who are over 30 and starting to look at their options for fertility and pregnancy. Some have started trying to get pregnant, but find it is taking a lot longer than they expect. Some are single women with no current plans to find a partner, or who have not found a…

STAND UP Using a standing desk at work may unwittingly encourage more sedentary behaviour at home, a new study has found. Researchers at Victoria University and Loughborough University in England discovered that office workers at sit-stand workstations compensated for standing at work by sitting more than normal during their downtime. High-fibre diet and breast cancer Women who eat high-fibre foods during adolescence and young adulthood may have a significantly lower breast cancer risk than those who eat less dietary fibre when young, according to new research. The study, led by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, looked at a group of more than 90,000 women and found that the breast cancer risk was 12-19 per cent lower among women who ate more dietary fibre in early adulthood.…

Easter crowns What you need: Bunny ears – we used ears from Spotlight, spotlight.com.au Fabric for inside of ears – we made one for a girl and one for a boy Cotton thread and needle Scissors Artificial flowers Glue gun STEPS 1 Using your store-purchased bunny ears, place a piece of fabric under the ears and use as a template to cut out two ears. 2 Once you have cut out the ears, fold the edges to form a seam and sew directly onto the crown. Repeat with the second ear. 3 For the girl’s crown, use a glue gun to stick the flowers directly onto the centre of the crown. Leave to dry. Easter craft tips A hot glue gun is the quickest way to stick craft…

Simnel cake PREP AND COOK TIME 2 HOURS 30 MINUTES 175g butter, softened ¾ cup (175g) brown sugar 3 eggs, beaten lightly 1¼ cups (185g) self-raising flour plus 2 tablespoons, extra ½ cup (75g) plain flour 1 teaspoon ground mixed spice 1 cup (160g) currants 1½ cups (240g) sultanas ¼ cup (50g) glacé cherries, cut into quarters ¼ cup (40g) candied peel, chopped finely 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon rind 1 tablespoon apricot jam 1 egg, beaten, to glaze MARZIPAN 1 cup (220g) caster sugar 1¾ cups (200g) almond meal (ground almonds) 1 teaspoon almond essence 1 egg, beaten lightly SUGARED FLOWERS unsprayed edible flowers 1 egg white, beaten lightly ½ cup (110g) caster sugar 1 Preheat oven to 150°C (130°C fan-forced). Grease a deep 18cm round cake pan. Line…

MY HOLIDAY LUNCH is all about the flavours of autumn. Eating outside is such a family favourite and this is absolutely the best time of the year for that. It’s an early Easter this year, but I still have figs and quinces in the garden, though my rhubarb has suffered by not getting enough water during the dry summer. Luckily, our local farmers’ market had a beautiful bunch for the dessert tart. The long slow-cooking of the pork and making the potted prawns a day in advance mean that it will be a lunch free of pressure – except for making sure there’s help cleaning-up afterwards! Kale with quince SERVES 6 PREP AND COOK TIME 15 MINUTES 1 bunch (700g) kale, leaves washed and chopped, stems discarded 50g unsalted butter…

IT’S NEVER TOO late to do something about your superannuation balance, especially if you are still doing some paid work. Here’s a six-point action plan to boost your balance: 1 Work out exactly how much you have, including checking to see if there’s any squirrelled away from previous jobs. There are ways you can do this for free, including authorising your super fund to search for you and add any money it finds. If your fund doesn’t provide this service, you can obtain a myGov account from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), enabling you to see details of all your super accounts, including any money the ATO is holding in your name, and transfer the balances. 2 Make sure your money is in a fund that’s working for you, meaning…

Inga Simpson was raised on a country property close to the small town of Grenfell. It was here she developed a close connection to the land. She also developed a passion for reading and writing. “I verbalised that I wanted to be a writer at 10 or 11, but my parents sensibly told me that writing wasn’t a real job. It took me another 25 years to realise that I didn’t want a real job,” says Inga. Her first novel, Mr Wigg, received widespread critical acclaim, while Nest, published in 2014, was long-listed for the 2015 Miles Franklin Literary Award. Inga now lives on a property in the Sunshine Coast hinterland.…

1. Grand Ferrero Rocher Make a statement this Easter with Grand Ferrero Rocher. With a delicious milk chocolate and hazelnut shell, and Ferrero Rocher chocolates inside, it’s the ideal Easter entertainer. Available in two sizes, 125g and 240g, from supermarkets. Visit ferrerochocolates.com.au. 2. Bendigo Art Gallery Bendigo Art Gallery and Twentieth Century Fox present Marilyn Monroe, an exhibition about the movie icon, bringing together authentic artefacts and clothing – including 20 original costumes from some of her greatest films, such as Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Tickets available online at www.bendigoartgallery.com.au. Image: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes © 1953 and 2016 Fox. 3. Bunnings Warehouse Add some contemporary style with this Tuscan Path black saturn pot (29cm x 28cm), made from lightweight glass-fibre reinforced concrete with chic black hand-painted detailing. RRP $39.98. 4. Chemist…

OUR HOUSE IS for sale and the first “open” started five minutes ago. I’d left it too late to escape. I grabbed The Weekly, retreated to the veranda and pretended to be invisible. It took a long time to decide to sell our house. So long, in fact, our children threatened to dig out their dusty “powers of attorney” and sell the house while we were at the shops. First, we had to “de-clutter”. To “de-clutter” means to throw out your stuff, but keep everyone else’s. Kids’ stuff is sacred. You need to pack and store it in case they ever want it again – school yearbooks, Lego, deflated footballs, blazers, photograph albums and DVDs. We even packed Bill and Sam, the garden gnomes who are close friends of our…