Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2021 i The Australian Women's Weekly

In the Horoscope special we ran in our January issue last year, The Weekly’s astrologist, Lilith Rocha, made the following prediction: “A major upheaval of civilisations … 2020 looks set to give us all front-row seats at a radical reset of global resources and economies.” Printed months before any of us had even uttered the word COVID, her comments may not have had a huge impact when we first read them. But as one keen reader who revisited the Horoscope special mid-pandemic pointed out, in hindsight they were eerily prophetic. With that in mind, I was keen to read what Lilith had in store for us in her 2021 astrology forecast (page 95), and relieved to learn that she’s not predicting any global meltdowns. Like all good optimists, I am…

When Sam Neill left his vineyard in the Southern Alps of New Zealand to work on the Apple TV+ series, Invasion, last February he couldn’t have anticipated how long it would take to get home again. Or what was to follow. That borders would close and the world would stop; that there would be a season and a vintage on the vineyard he wouldn’t see. And he certainly didn’t plan on becoming a sort of kindly global uncle amusingly reassuring anxious, uncertain people as the pandemic spread and lockdown became the reality. To his half a million Twitter followers, there he was playing Radiohead and Randy Newman songs on the ukulele, reading poems and children’s books, duetting with Jeff Goldblum on jazz piano and bringing us Cinema Quarantino: comedy short…

Like all of us, architects have learnt a lot from being housebound for much of 2020. A winning architect in the UK’s Home of 2030 competition, Jennifer Beningfield, told The Guardian she was conscious of the need to create “space to work from home, without having your laptop on the kitchen table”. She and other entrants also created private outdoor spaces that backed onto community gardens, to capitalise on the emerging sense of “neighbourhood”. Other entrants devised software platforms through which home builders could visualise houses and procure assistance and supplies. This year’s batch of ‘homes of 2030’ focuses on hands-on, owner-driven design and DIY. While our houses may see a return to traditional values, we’ll still want whiz-bang gadgets in them. An uptake of internet and robotic technology is…

The touch of a dingo is a magical thing. This I know for sure. 2020 has been a challenging year for so many, but for me it has been truly life-changing. This year has given me the gift of working the most intelligent and sensitive animal I have ever known. The Australian Dingo. I knew almost nothing about dingoes before I visited the Australian Dingo Foundation at its sanctuary in Toolern Vale, Victoria, in 2018. I went along on one of the ‘Cuddle a Cub’ days, thinking I would see some adorable dingo cubs, and that would be the end of that. But what I discovered made my heart beat faster and my mind race. Dingoes are ethereal, all-knowing, and the smartest canid in the world. An animal that can…

“Vinegar has so many uses, spraying it on windows to clean them and then using newspaper to wipe it off is one – then put that used newspaper in the compost.”Noela •To protect and maintain leather, boil 550ml linseed oil with 275ml white vinegar and apply with a soft damp cloth. •Sponge gold picture frames and ornaments gently with white vinegar for a perfect clean. •To clean a crystal chandelier, place a plastic cover and a few sheets of newspaper over a table under the chandelier. Fill a glass with lukewarm water and add a dash of white vinegar or alcohol. Hold the glass up to each crystal teardrop and immerse it, then allow it to drip dry. “I make a lot of jams, preserves and chutneys and use them…

As we back down our driveway with five children and one dog on the first leg of a long drive north for a summer break, a little voice asks if we’re there yet. Someone complains, from under a surfboard, that they are “all stuffed up back here!” A third voice says the dog smells and numbers four and five ask to be let out at the next corner. “I want out too,” growls The MOTH (The Man of the House), “but you don’t hear me complaining.” “We have paid an outrageous amount for this holiday,” I remind them. “You are to start enjoying it right now! There’s only 400 kilometres to go!” We’d rented a good old Aussie beach apartment complete with stains on the carpet and a vinyl sofa…

Effortless and carefree encapsulates summer colour this year. “Think fine highlights around the face to soften, and golden, warm tones for a youthful feel,” says Laura Brand, Goldwell Colour Specialist at Shibui in Melbourne. “Subtle and natural textured hair is the trend this season.” Laura predicts that clients will embrace grey more than ever, and encourages blondes to try gold or honey highlights. “Utilise those whites as your bright ‘blonde’ highlight to blend the regrowth and avoid the need for further lightening,” she says. Darker hair fades in harsh UV, but warm highlights can turn a faded tone into a fresh look. “Try freehand colouring as it follows the natural fall of the hair and creates definition,” Laura says. To help your colour last, wash locks in lukewarm water, do…

Gladys Phillips is 100 years old and not slowing down. Daily walks with her grandchildren, weekly physio and regular social outings keep her feeling young. Still being able to touch her toes makes her legendary. “Until I was 60, I owned a shop and worked as the first female taxidriver in Fingal Head [in NSW],” Gladys tells The Weekly. “I’ve always been active and social in the community, so I’ve never been lonely. When I retired, I played bridge and took up ballroom dancing. I don’t drink or smoke, and live by the motto: ‘Hard work won’t kill you, but worry will’.” And it seems Gladys’ motto holds some truth. Dr John Tickell has spent decades travelling and studying the health, wellbeing and longevity patterns of people around the world.…

We all need to do less – not be less, just do less – so that we can all feel better. Today I challenge you to consolidate your schedule and the tasks you have to complete. To apply the ‘less, but better’ rule, we can start by minimising our day-today schedules. Ask yourself the following three questions: 1 Does doing this activity feel ‘heavy’ or ‘light’? An activity that feels ‘heavy’ is one that you dread all week long, and when you’re there, you can’t wait for it to be over. ‘Light’ activities are the opposite – you look forward to them, relish in the moment and can’t wait to do it all again. If it feels heavy, let it go. Life is too short. 2 Who am I doing…

“Chilli salt is the flavour bomb here. Sprinkle over white fish or pork on the barbecue.” Oregano lamb with watermelon salad SERVES 4-6 PREP AND COOK TIME 40 MINUTES (+ STANDING AND RESTING TIME) 1kg boneless leg of lamb, butterflied 3 garlic cloves ¼ cup loosely packed oregano leaves 3 teaspoons dried oregano finely grated rind and juice 1 lemon ½ cup (125ml) extra virgin olive oil WATERMELON SALAD 1 baby whole seedless watermelon, sliced thickly into rounds ½ red onion, thinly sliced into rings 100g Greek fetta, sliced ½ cup (75g) Kalamata olives ½ cup loosely packed round mint 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil juice of ½ lemon 1 Place lamb in a large dish. In a mortar and pestle, pound garlic, dried and fresh oregano and lemon…

Rhubarb, cherry and almond galette SERVES 8 PREP AND COOK TIME 1 HOUR (+ REFRIGERATION TIME) 1⅔ cups (250g) plain flour ⅓ cup (55g) icing sugar mixture 150g cold butter, chopped 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1-1½ tablespoons iced water, approximately 1 bunch rhubarb (thin stemmed), washed, trimmed 200g fresh cherries, pitted 1 egg, beaten lightly ⅓ cup (65g) coffee crystals FRANGIPANE FILLING 75g very soft butter 2 teaspoons finely grated lemon rind ⅓ cup (75g) caster sugar 1 egg ¾ cup (90g) almond meal 1 tablespoon plain flour 1 For the sweet pastry, in a food processor, pulse the flour, icing sugar, cold butter, a pinch of salt, and vanilla until mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Add the iced water, processing until mixture just comes together. Flatten pastry into a disc,…

READER’S PRIZE HINT Citrus-based goo remover is great for removing stubborn soap scum from glass shower screens – rub it on with a damp cloth then polish off with paper towels or a microfibre cloth. D. Fry, Annandale, NSW. Keep clear To prevent mulch getting too close to the base of small trees and shrubs, cut a 6cm-deep circle from the rim end of old plastic flowerpots or takeaway containers, slit the side and press into the soil around the base. Slow your roll If baking paper keeps rolling up when you’ve cut it to line a tin, simply crumple it into a loose ball, then smooth it out again and it will lie flat. Just bead it For a fun – and useful – holiday project for small children,…

Contemporary fiction Factory 19 by Dennis Glover, Black Inc Fascinating, funny and futuristic – but not in the way you may expect. Author Dennis Glover paints Hobart in 2022, when Tasmania’s capital is staggering under a seemingly irreversible recession – depressed residents are departing in droves. One day, a rusty ship arrives in the harbour to unload its cargo on the site of the subterranean Gallery of Future Art. GoFA’s owner, enigmatic billionaire Dundas Faussett – “I have seen the past and it works!”– wants to rebuild the economy, devoid of any technology. He’s thinking of a new Year Zero: 1948. All those “little people” who lost jobs because of Amazon, Uber and Airbnb are invited to live as if the internet had never been invented. Zo long, farewell Zuckerberg;…

At the top of the Tararua Range on New Zealand’s North Island, the wind is strong enough to knock you off your feet. It’s a fact that Laura Waters, 49, learnt the hard way. Having made her way north from Cape Reinga, the adventurer had already covered more than 1500km of the Te Araroa Trail (‘The Long Pathway’ in Maori) on foot. But, up on the ridge, she stumbled into dangerous territory. “The wind was so loud, it sounded like a jet engine. It was deafening,” Laura tells The Weekly. “It was white and foggy and like I’d been dragged into a parallel universe – a raging world of white noise.” The terrifying experience might have put some walkers off, but for Laura, it was just a tough day at…

• Set up a phone alert through your bank so you get a text notification whenever you spend with your card or phone. • Ensure your savings are in the right place. A competitive savings account will offer an interest rate of around 1.5 per cent, whereas a transaction account’s interest rate will usually be between zero and 0.5 per cent. • There is about $1.1 billion in lost and unclaimed money being held by the Australian government, and it’s free to search. Visit moneysmart.gov.au and learn how to claim any lost money in your name.…

They’d met in the Melbourne advertising scene and had been playing around smoky folk clubs and wine bars for a couple of years, when The Seekers decided to throw in their day jobs and take their melodic, folk-gospel sound to the world. In 1964, Judith Durham, Bruce Woodley, Keith Potger and Athol Guy booked a gig on a cruise ship headed for England. They sent recordings and photographs ahead and by the time they arrived, they had an agent who booked them into theatres and clubs right across the UK. They teamed up with songwriter Tom Springfield and recorded their first single, I’ll Never Find Another You, at the famous Abbey Road Studios. The Seekers became the first Australian band to top an international chart when that song hit #1…

Reach for the beeswax wraps. Our future-casting special (page 44) has me thinking cleaner and greener. Follow Sam Neill… on Twitter, on Instagram, down the road or wherever. He’s the calm we all need in 2021 (page 30). Go with the flow. That’s the takeaway message for me and my fellow Geminis in our 2021 horoscope special (page 95), and I’m all about it. Love leftovers. I could eat these Hawaiian pizza-inspired toasties all holiday. They’re that good (page 137).…

LOVE DELAYED The Japanese princess who gave up her crown to marry her commoner boyfriend has delayed her wedding for a second time. Princess Mako, 29, said she and her fiancé remain “irreplaceable to each other”. UNHAPPY OUTBREAK Crown Princess Mary’s son Prince Christian of Denmark (left) tested positive for COVID-19 following an outbreak at his school. The rest of the Danish Royal family went into isolation until they tested negative. GREAT EXPECTATIONS The Queen is reportedly delighted that she is to become a great-grandmother again. Princess Anne’s daughter, Zara Tindall, and her husband, Mike, have announced they are expecting their third child. The couple already has two girls, Mia, six, and Lena, two.…

While all the Cambridge children faced the media as newborns, just hours after they entered the world, the Duke and Duchess have kept public exposure for Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis to a minimum. Prince William knows only too well what it feels like to grow up in that spotlight and it’s not something he wants for his own family. So to see Prince George, seven, Princess Charlotte, five and two-and-a-half-year-old Prince Louis make their joint red carpet debut attending a pantomime performance at The London Palladium just before Christmas was a notable royal landmark. The special panto was for Britain’s key workers and their families to thank them for their phenomenal efforts and underlined the Cambridge family’s personal commitment to lifting spirits as Britain continues to battle…

Jack’s quilt Brooke, Matilda, Cooper, Billy, Jared and Jack’s bear are seated on a picnic blanket that has been sewn together with love from the quilts that kept Jack warm in hospital. One was signed by the doctors and nurses who cared for him. The quilt has a special place in the family home and comes along on holidays and picnics. Early morning light filtered through the bedroom window. It was a day or two before Easter 2012. Brooke Hanson opened her eyes and looked blearily around the room. Her heart ached. Three days earlier, she and her husband had lost their baby boy, Jack, after a nine-month fight for his life in neonatal intensive care. “You wake up and you hope it’s all been a nightmare,” she remembers now.…

Did Mr and Mrs Mozart and Mr and Mrs Beethoven suffer like us? Did they flee their homes screaming in anguish when Wolfgang and Ludwig were learning to play? I blame myself entirely. I said the children had to learn at least one instrument or they weren’t allowed to play sport. It was their choice, I didn’t care which instrument it was but it was my job to raise well-rounded people who were just as comfortable with an orchestra as they were an oval. I’m not a musician myself and regrets, I’ve had a few, and this is one of them. Sure, I can belt out a good rendition of Good King Wenceslas on the Yamaha recorder courtesy of compulsory lessons in Grade 3, but I was never pushed to…

Truth be told, hair is dead. All that talk about bringing locks to life is, frankly, only factually accurate if you’re referencing the root of the follicle – the bit where the hair bulb spouts those pretty strands of protein that we fuss over so much. Scalp health hardly sounds sexy, but it’s often the root cause of all your crowning glory woes. “Your skin doesn’t stop where your hairline starts,” says Lisa Caddy, global training director and consultant trichologist for Philip Kingsley. “Think of your scalp as an extension of your face – just with more oil and sweat glands – and give it the same care and attention to optimise healthy-looking hair.” For starters, that means adopting a more rigorous cleansing regimen because when oils and product build…

Exercise in positivity Are you a glass-half-full, look-at-the-positives kind of person? Then we’ve got good news for you. People who have a cheerful attitude – or what psychologists call the “positive affect” – experience less memory decline than those who dwell on the negative, according to a new study published in Psychological Science. While all participants experienced some memory loss through ageing, “individuals with higher levels of positive affect had a less steep memory decline over the course of almost a decade,” says lead author Emily Hittner. ASK an EXPERT “I’ve been told I have a seborrhoeic keratosis. What is it and how do I get rid of it?” Seborrhoeic keratoses, otherwise known as “senile warts”, are harmless waxy growths that appear in our 40s and beyond, says dermatologist Dr…

The first step in this journey is acceptance that we should aim for effort, not perfection. Let’s begin by loosening our grip on the ‘perfect’ way to live a zero waste life and accept that making an effort in everything that we do all adds up to a big cumulative difference. This might mean one night you’re too tired to cook so you order home delivery, but it might also mean you wash all the plastic packaging from the delivery and reuse it for your next freezer meals. Every effort made should be congratulated. Begin by writing a short manifesto on how to be a gentle activist. A gentle activist is one who is kind towards others and themselves about how much they can do and what they expect of…

Contrary what you might think, alone time won’t make you feel more lonely. Scheduling time for yourself is a form of self-care. It’s so important to set aside time to do something for you, without anyone else around. Here are some restorative ideas for you to schedule in: • Yoga or light exercise • A run or walk along the beach • Catch the train to a new destination and spend a few hours being a tourist • Go for a swim in a scenic outdoor pool • Sit in a cafe or bar and have a drink by yourself • Go to a film festival and enjoy a film by yourself • Sit in a cafe and read a book just for pleasure • Scour a weekend market for…

Asian crispy noodle salad SERVES 4 PREP TIME 10 MINUTES ½ medium wombok (500g), shredded finely 300g canned corn kernels, drained 150g snow peas, trimmed, sliced thinly 1 large red capsicum (350g), sliced thinly 100g packet fried noodles ⅓ cup (50g) roasted salted peanuts, chopped coarsely SESAME-SOY DRESSING 2 teaspoons sesame oil ½ cup (125ml) soy sauce 2 tablespoons sweet chilli sauce 1 SESAME-SOY DRESSING Place ingredients in a screw-top jar; shake well. 2 Combine wombok, corn, snow peas, capsicum and fried noodles in a medium bowl. 3 Drizzle with the dressing and sprinkle with peanuts. Not suitable to freeze or microwave. DO-AHEAD To make this salad portable, pack the vegetables, noodles and peanuts separately in containers, and keep dressing in the screw-top jar. When ready to serve, place all…

Dip it! Beetroot, cranberry and fetta whip is a tasty dip for snacking or a sandwich spread. To make it, combine 180g marinated Persian fetta, 80ml extra virgin olive oil, 500g vacuum-packed cooked beetroot, 35g toasted walnuts, 50g Ocean Spray 50% less sugar Craisins®, 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon rind and 60ml lemon juice in a blender or food processor; blitz until smooth. Season with salt and pepper; serve with crispbreads. COLOURING IN AND CUPCAKES Wholefood and sustainable baking company Hill St has created healthy baking kits for kids. Each kit features themed cupcake cases and toppers, as well as a colouring-in scene created by Australian illustrator Beci Orpin. Kits also provide specific examples of ways to reuse the packaging, like turning the cardboard box into an astronaut’s helmet! In…

Global fiction When the Apricots Bloom by Gina Wilkinson , Hachette In her author’s note Gina Wilkinson underlines that When the Apricots Bloom “is a work of fiction” but much of this fascinating, heart-in-mouth, female-centric thriller is based on Gina’s experiences living in Iraq under Saddam Hussein’s terrifying rule. Ally is a journalist recently made redundant and as the book opens, her husband Tom is posted to Iraq to be Australia’s deputy ambassador. Ally can go too as Tom’s “dependent spouse” and knowing she won’t get a visa if she states her true profession, writes “housewife” in the relevant box. For Ally, Iraq is special. Her late American mother lived there as a young woman and she is determined to discover more about that secretive time. In…

3-5 NALA THE KOALA, Illustrated by Penny Min Ferguson, Puffin All royalties from this enchanting book go to WIRES (NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service), which continues to rehabilitate native animals following bushfires. With a knapsack on her back, Nala is looking for a new home. But the beach is too sandy and the street too smoky. She needs a cool breeze and somewhere safe to snooze. Where have all the trees gone? 6-8 HAPPINESS IS A CLOUD by Robert Vescio, Big Sky Publishing Harry is a cloud-spotter and, along with Dad, sees a flying pig and learns that dark clouds aren’t scary – they bring rain! Harry floats home happy. 8+ FLY ON THE WALL by Remy Lai, Walker Another smashing, chunky paperback in cartoon…

CHRISTMAS MIRACLE I rarely purchase magazines in the build-up to Christmas, emblazoned with great expectations on so many levels. I can’t wait for the ‘festive season’ to be over for a variety of reasons. I was delighted to pick up your December issue, full of interesting articles to read over the month and with minimal references to Christmas. And for those who love “the season” … I saw there was a bumper Christmas issue in early December – everyone’s catered for! Thank you! D. Watkinson, Port Macquarie, NSW COOKING WITH LOVE I admit to sneaking a peek at my partner’s copy of AWW every month. The November 2020 issue included some fantastic recipes which was perfect for making my partner something special for our anniversary. Thank you for the Seeded…

The guests at the 2020 Women of the Future event seemed to breathe a happy sigh of relief as they entered the Yallamundi Rooms at the Opera House. After a strange and trying year, many were enjoying their first opportunity to frock up and celebrate surviving 2020. And what a celebration it was. For the first time ever, our finalists spoke directly to the guests who had come to learn about their life-changing projects. More than a few tears were shed as the six change makers talked about the enterprises they had built and the injustices they wanted to address. Our panel, Anna Bligh, Ita Buttrose, Jane Caro and Yasmin Poole, then pondered what we’d learned in 2020, led by host Brooke Boney.…

On a sweltering night in early August, King Juan Carlos of Spain, once the most glamorous and admired monarch in Europe, boarded a private jet at a quiet provincial airport, and ... vanished. Even Spain’s prime minister claims not to know where the king has gone, and the royal court in Madrid says it can offer “no information”. He has been reported living in a desert palace in Abu Dhabi and occupying the top floor of a luxury hotel in the Dominican Republic. Meanwhile, Spain hums with rumours that the king, who abdicated under pressure six years ago, has not really left at all, but is holed up in a remote retreat in the mountainous province of Galicia. If no one is certain of the king’s whereabouts, everyone knows the…

When Fiona Stanley looks back on her childhood in 1950s Sydney, she recalls the frightening spectre of polio, which ended her Saturday pastime of going to the cinema. Public pools were also closed and parents kept their children at home, safe from the paralysing virus. But those years also instilled in Fiona a fascination with the potential of research. Her family lived amid a tangle of bushland in La Perouse, in what she describes as “a funny little house below the infectious diseases hospital” where her father, Neville, was working to develop a vaccine. “My first memory of my father – I was three or four – was of him blowing a spinal cord and brain out of a mouse which was infected with polio and injecting it into chimpanzees…

Signs of the times As the ripples and repercussions from 2020 spread, this year’s planetary alignment of Jupiter and Saturn conjunct – an event traditionally associated with economic challenges and social unrest – will continue stirring the global disturbances long predicted by astrologers, climatologists and other futurists. The good news? Uranus, planet of evolution and invention, moving through its seven-year cycle in Taurus, earthiest of the earth signs, speaks loud and clear in nature’s language about the profound need to alter our attitudes towards resources and fall in love again with our planetary home. Homeostasis – the ability to maintain a relatively stable internal state during changes in the outside world – is this year’s most precious personal resource. ➝ Aries MAR 21-APR 21 Big Picture Aries love a challenge,…

“2020 has shown people it’s okay to just let your hair be,” says Emily Olsson, KMS Guest Artist at Shibui in Melbourne, who tips soft pixie cuts and curtain bangs as the hottest trends for 2021. “Curtain fringes suit any length, whether it’s a bob or longer locks, and make hair look fuller,” she says. Kevin Murphy agrees: “Bangs are not going anywhere. Anything from full, blunt, eyebrow-skimming fringes to wispy ’70s curtains are in. It’s a very non-committal style update, so you can’t go wrong.”…

For a diet overhaul myWW+ From planning your meals based on what’s in your fridge to finding free workouts and uploading regular audio coaching sessions, WW’s updated app personalises an action plan to help you meet your goals, while using a holistic approach to weight loss. For better sleep Calm Find yourself tossing and turning at night, unable to switch off your thoughts? Calm aims to ease anxiety and promote better sleep through guided meditations, sleep stories, relaxing music stations and more. For mindfulness Grateful: A Gratitude Journal Practising gratitude is often harder than it sounds. Through a series of prompts, this app helps you to consistently record all the positive thoughts and feelings that occur throughout your day, as well as storing them for future inspiration.…

We live in a world with a 24-hour news cycle, and advertising and social media constantly vying for our attention. This added noise makes us more anxious, more angry and more fearful. Climate change is the most important issue the world faces. However, watching the news with a feverish obsession, or mindlessly scrolling through social media isn’t going to change anything. We need to have practical steps to break away from the noise so that we can get to work. Today is the day to let go of these fears and become fearless. We need to be aware, but not scared. We need to educate our children, but not shock them. We need to be firm but gentle in our approach. Here are my self-care tips to ensure you’re fearless,…

Ham hash MAKES 10-12 PREP AND COOK TIME 25 MINUTES 4 medium (800g) russet potatoes, peeled 1 medium (150g) onion, grated or chopped finely ½ cup (75g) self-raising flour 2 eggs, beaten lightly 2 teaspoons fresh thyme or rosemary 1 cup finely shredded leg ham 1 cup (250ml) extra virgin olive oil for frying, or as needed 1 Grate the potatoes on the coarse side of a box grater. Immediately place into a large bowl of cold water as they will start to brown very quickly. Drain the grated potatoes through a strainer and rinse until water is clear. Drain well and squeeze dry in a clean tea towel. 2 Place grated potato in a large bowl, and combine with onion, flour and egg until well mixed. Stir in thyme…

Fruit salad rice paper rolls SERVES 6 PREP TIME 30 MINUTES 12 small (60g) rice paper rounds ½ small (200g) red papaya, sliced thinly 2 medium (170g) kiwifruit, sliced thinly 125g small strawberries, halved 125g raspberries, halved ½ cup mint leaves HONEY LIME DIPPING SAUCE 2 (130g) limes 2 tablespoons honey 1 HONEY LIME DIPPING SAUCE Finely grate rind from the limes. Juice limes; you will need ⅓ cup. Place lime rind, juice and honey in a small bowl; whisk to combine. 2 Cover a chopping board with a damp clean tea towel. Place one rice paper round at a time in a bowl of warm water until softened. Place on tea towel; top rice paper with one-twelfth of the sliced papaya, kiwifruit, strawberry, raspberry and mint leaves in a…

As a former foreign correspondent and documentary maker, Gina Wilkinson has reported from global hotspots for ABC and BBC TV. Today she lives in Melbourne with her husband and two sons, works in international development and When the Apricots Bloom is her debut novel. She was born in Perth and raised in country towns including Moora in the WA wheat belt. That childhood shaped her journalistic nous. “I was very shy when I was young, but as we moved from town to town, I learned that you can find interesting and inspiring people wherever you go, whether that’s a country town with no traffic lights and one pub, or a mega-city of 20 million.”…

The train rattled down the country, stopping and starting, always in the worst areas of every town. Durham. York. Leeds. Doncaster. The factory chimneys and rows of blackened terraces all looked the same. So many poor people, Marion thought. And here she was, off to serve the richest. It was crazy, really. But she gritted her teeth, remembered Miss Golspie and channelled her doubts into planning her alternative curriculum. It would include a bus ride and shopping at Woolworths, as Miss Golspie had suggested. And, perhaps, to give some insight into how the nation was run and protected, they would visit Parliament – but strictly the public gallery – and a police station. The London docks, for trade. The Bank of England, so Elizabeth might learn about how it worked,…