Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2025 i The Australian Women's Weekly

When I was growing up in Adelaide in the 1980s, one of the first names of fashion that I became aware of was Maggie Tabberer. She was the local girl who became a cover star and fashionable businesswoman: The chic face of The Weekly championed women of all sizes with her eponymous label, Maggie T, one of the first inclusive fashion labels. She was also outspoken about women’s issues, including raising awareness about SIDS after the loss of her son, Francesco. An inspirational Australian and true icon. Maggie has been a much-loved member of The Weekly family since she first appeared in our pages as a young fashion model in the 1960s. She graced our cover more than 15 times, and led The Weekly’s style team as Fashion Editor from…

As I hunched over my cooktop, slurping my reheated pasta straight from the frypan, I thought … what can an (allegedly) deeply flawed and quite possibly (allegedly) unhinged woman like me possibly offer you by way of inspirational New Year’s resolutions? First, let me explain the frypandining. I share my home with three housemates: two teenaged and one almost-teenaged. Some may call them my children. I prefer to refer to them as housemates. It just feels …fairer. These housemates (and to be clear, there are literally no three people I’d rather live with) have an endearing habit of racking up an unfathomably large pile of glasses, cups, cutlery and plates every few hours. It really is a miraculous gift. They merely touch a glass and it’s deemed unfit to be…

In a small, slab-fronted courthouse in a town built on gambling, Rupert Murdoch laid the biggest bet of his extraordinary career, and lost. The empire he had built in a bruising, buccaneering lifetime shuddered, and no one knows where the pieces might fall. A secret hearing, convened to decide who would inherit the 93-year-old tycoon's global media business, ended with a crushing rebuttal of Rupert's plan to give everything to his eldest son, Lachlan. The court in Reno, Nevada, accused Murdoch Sr of "acting in bad faith" and struck down his attempt to revise a long-established family trust. Rupert Murdoch once suggested that he could live forever. “In the unlikely event that I prove to be mortal … ” he began, and the executives around him laughed obligingly. They didn’t…

The sound of a gunshot echoed along Sydney’s Pitt Street, ricocheting off the neon and marble facade of Chequers nightclub, and drawing the natty-suited doorman’s gaze to a car parked a few doors away at the corner of Pitt and King. On the pavement beside the car, a streetlight illuminated the body of Arthur Griffith, son of a bookmaker and notorious ladies’ man. A bullet had entered his forehead. In the back seat of the car sat 22-year-old model, Shirley Beiger, his girlfriend. Alongside her was a .22 Browning repeater rifle. So began one of the most controversial murder cases of the 1950s. Shirley, despite the evidence, protested her innocence. The prosecution painted her as a desperate, jealous, scarlet woman. The defence painted Arthur as a low-life, womanising cad. And…

Signs of the times The slow-moving outer planets of our solar system historically accompany significant shifts in terrestrial trends, and four of these heavenly heavyweights switching positions in the same timeframe promise a wild ride for 2025. Pluto and Uranus rising from earth signs into airy Aquarius and Gemini accelerate both the rate of global change and the need to lighten and simplify our lives. With reliance on technology escalating, it becomes increasingly necessary to remember that our minds and hearts have infinitely more creative intelligence than any robot. Neptune and Saturn shaking off their watery residue in fiery Aries encourage us to keep tuning into what it means to be human as this intense time cycle invites everyone to make their unique, varied and rogue contributions to collective life…

Grey matter Short styles and layers reduce bulk and make grey hair look softer. Hair stylist Belinda Jeffrey recommends blonde highlights or lowlights to make hair look more ‘alive’. “Blondes can go blonder and blend grey with a semi-permanent,” says Belinda. “Brunettes can transition to lighter shades that aren’t as harsh as a solid dark tint. Regrowth is less obvious and doesn’t need colouring every three weeks.” The first time I chopped off my waist-length honey-blonde locks, it sparked heated debate before I so much as stepped within cooee of the chair: Was I in crisis? Did I understand the extensive daily maintenance ramifications? Was I ready to commit to a long-term relationship with hot tools? (A hard no on all three counts.) In hindsight I can better comprehend the…

As the New Year rolls around, many of us are tempted to set those typical resolutions: Lose weight, join a local gym or cut out sugar completely. But let’s be honest – how many of those stick past February? Instead of focusing on rigid goals that generally only make us feel guilty when we slip up, rethinking our approach could mean we’re more likely to hit them. “Goals fall down for a number of reasons; they may have been poorly planned, unrealistic, and not prioritised for when life gets in the way,” explains psychologist Dr Rachael Sharman, a Senior Lecturer and Undergraduate Program Coordinator at the University of the Sunshine Coast. “As the old saying goes, a goal is a dream with a plan. It’s not good enough just to…

Pork & kimchi burgers SERVES 6 PREP + COOK TIME 45 MINUTES 800g minced pork 1½ cups (120g) thinly shredded wombok 4 green onions, chopped finely 2 tablespoons Korean miso 1½ tablespoons gochujang 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce 2 teaspoons ground white pepper 2 tablespoons sesame oil 2 cups (400g) kimchi 1 small carrot (70g), halved, julienned ½ cup (150g) Kewpie (Japanese) mayonnaise 6 brioche burger buns (380g), split 1 cup coriander leaves 1 Heat a covered gas barbecue with all burners set to high and hood closed. Alternatively, prepare a charcoal barbecue to medium heat. 2 Place pork, wombok, green onion, 1 tablespoon of the miso, 1 tablespoon of the gochujang, the soy sauce, pepper and sesame oil in a large bowl. Mix with your hands to…

Pitta bread MAKES 8 PREP + COOK TIME 1 HOUR (+ STANDING TIME) 2 teaspoons (7g) dried yeast 1 teaspoon caster sugar 1¼ cups (310ml) warm milk 4¼ cups (635g) plain flour 1 teaspoon fine sea salt ½ cup (140g) Greek yoghurt 1 egg, beaten lightly ¼ cup (60ml) water 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil 1 Combine yeast, sugar and milk in a small bowl; stir until yeast dissolves. Cover; stand in a warm place for 10 minutes or until mixture is frothy. 2 Sift flour and salt into a large bowl. Stir in yeast mixture and combined yoghurt, egg, water and oil. Turn dough onto a floured surface, knead for 10 minutes or until smooth and elastic. Place dough in a large oiled bowl; cover with…

Letter of the month Thank you for Denise Scott’s column The colours of life (AWW, Christmas). This was the worst year of my family’s life after our daughter was diagnosed with breast cancer. Seeing her suffer broke my heart and as a result I have been fighting depression. I felt like a failure but eventually succumbed to taking antidepressants and was so embarrassed at having to take them. That was until I read how Denise loved her antidepressants! It was like instant therapy. Thank you Denise – you will never know how much you have reassured me that I am “normal” after all. Burpengary East, Qld. Outback Christmas I want to celebrate the sensational subscriber-only cover of Poh (“What I’ve learned about love”, AWW, Christmas). When I saw it in…

When the news broke on December 6 that icon Maggie Tabberer had died age 87, a dazzling star went out in Australia’s fashion firmament. Modest Maggie would have been surprised at how intense the outpouring of emotion was. The news of her passing was the lead story for every newspaper, social media site, radio and TV network. The loss felt by Australia was palpable, for even though she was “a very old lady” –her words not mine – Maggie never lost her lustre. The stunning young girl with piercing sky-blue eyes and perfect bone structure from working-class Adelaide who then grew up to be a supermodel, TV star, fashion editor and savvy business entrepreneur was a national treasure and as was immediately obvious, she commanded a very special place in…

“That’s how deluded I was, thinking ‘I’ll get to the party … I’ll be fine’.” Walking into The Weekly’s shoot back in November, Mel Schilling admitted to feeling triggered. It was a year ago to the day, she revealed, that she was on this exact same street to see a doctor about the stomach pain she’d been suffering from in silence for weeks. She’d put it down to jet lag and overwork at first. But then the pain had become excruciating. Yet instead of picking up on some obvious symptoms of what she would later learn was early-onset bowel cancer – including unexplained weight loss and an inability to go to the toilet – the doctor sent her away with a sachet of laxatives and the impression she was being…

Patricia Karvelas – best known to the nation as ABC’s “PK” – opens her front door with the hyperactive bundle of fluff that is Bindi the cavoodle hot on her heels. “Sorry,” she says holding back the family pooch whose exuberance, I soon discover, mirrors her mistress’s unquenchable zest. To an onlooker Patricia’s work life over the past few years seems jam-packed: Early mornings on Radio National Breakfast, late nights hosting TV’s Q+A and a punchy podcast, The Party Room, all with an imperative to keep her finger firmly on the pulse of a febrile political landscape. Fitting in a private life may sound like a stretch, but very quickly I see that family is the necessary still point that allows her to succeed. It has always been thus. Raised…

The Friday knock-off drinks were casual, but I was nervous. I was meeting my fiancé’s new work colleagues for the first time, and I wanted to make a good impression. On the way to the pub, I rehearsed some small talk in my mind. “How was your day, Alley?” “Great, thanks! I finally finished a book manuscript I’ve been working on for five months. Cheers to that.” In my imaginary conversation, I clinked schooners with my new acquaintances in celebration. In real life, however, the cheers-ing didn’t happen – because the question never came. Sitting at a table in the beer garden, I happily introduced myself to my fiancé’s team. Excitedly, I asked about the week that was and the weekend ahead. Curious, I asked about the big project they…

Shot on location at St Tropez, Palm Beach. All prices is approximate. HAIR AND MAKE-UP BY NICOLA JOHNSON. STYLING ASSISTANT: LILLY VEITCH. MODEL: SHAREN KENNY @ PRIMARY MANAGEMENT.…

Blunt cut Wet to straight Creates a clean, fresh look without going shorter. It gives a sharp, polished appearance, just like Jennifer Aniston. Dyson Airstrait in Strawberry Bronze, $749. Dyson Chitosan Pre-Style Cream, $89. Soft layers Must-haves Add dimension and movement change in length or style queen Julianne Moore. ment without a drastic texture, just like GHD Helios Hairdryer, $360. Olaplex Volumising Blow Dry Mist, $54. Bouncy waves Soft curl Use a curling iron to create loose textured waves for Michelle Pfeiffer vibes. VS Sassoon Cool Curl Brilliance, $149. Aveda Smooth Infusion Style-Prep Smoother, $51. Texture switch Multitasker! Goldie Hawn rocks bouncy curtain bangs on straight hair. For wavy hair, straighten the fringe. ltn Hair Straightener Original Styler, $220. R+Co Velvet Curtain Cotton Touch Texture Balm, $51. Take it up…

Perimenopause made me realise that our brains need looking after. When my hormones changed, I found my attention span got scrappier, and I couldn’t finish a whole page of a book. Little did I know, oestrogen fluctuations can lead to brain fog. And the perimenopausal drop in progesterone impacts the amygdala, the brain’s fear-processing centre. “That is going to make you more easily triggered, bothered by things and more likely to worry, too,” says neuroscientist Nicole Vignola, author of Rewire. If this sounds all too familiar, take comfort. Most women do recover from peri-brain fog once in menopause (and HRT can help alleviate it, too). But then, I also worry about dementia, which affects twice as many women as men. “The thought of getting Alzheimer’s disease or dementia frightens people,”…

In recent years, magnesium has emerged as one of the most talked-about supplements. Purported to help with everything from a good night’s sleep and boosting energy to alleviating constipation and supporting heart health, there’s no doubt it’s having a moment. Naturally found in leafy greens, nuts, seeds, and wholegrains, it’s crucial for several bodily functions, such as regulating muscle and nerve activity, maintaining blood sugar levels, and supporting a healthy immune system. But despite its abundance in food, the ABS reports that over 30 per cent of us fall short of the recommended dietary intake (RDI). Why it’s trending As an increasing number of us deal with health and lifestyle issues like stress and sleep problems, magnesium has stepped in. “Magnesium assists with over 300 biochemical pathways in the body,…

If you love everything about lasagne except the time it takes to make it, then this is for you. This is not a traditional recipe for lasagne – it’s more for those wanting all the comforting gooey yumminess of lasagne but in an instant. Try it – you’ll love it! For MORE Too Easy by Donna Hay, 4th Estate, RRP $45, on sale now. One-pan undone lasagne SERVES 6 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 brown onion, finely chopped 3 cloves garlic, crushed 600g beef mince 1 litre good-quality beef stock 3 x 400g cans crushed tomatoes 2 tablespoons chopped oregano leaves sea salt and cracked black pepper 250g fresh lasagne sheets, cut into 5cm x 21cm strips ¼ cup chopped basil leaves, plus extra leaves to serve…

No.1 Ranch dressing Blend ½ cup mayonnaise, ¼ cup buttermilk, 1 tbsp white wine vinegar, 1 chopped eschalot, 1 clove crushed garlic, 1 tbsp each chopped chives and flat-leaf parsley and ¼ tsp sweet paprika until smooth. Transfer to a small bowl, season to taste. Cover; refrigerate until required. (Makes 1 cup.) No. 2 French dressing Combine 1/ 3 cup white wine vinegar, 2 tsp Dijon mustard and ½ tsp caster sugar in a small bowl. Gradually add 2/ 3 cup extra virgin olive oil in a thin, steady stream, whisking continuously until combined. Season to taste. (Makes 1 cup.) No. 3 Chilli lime dressing Place 2 small seeded, thinly sliced red bird’s eye chillies, 2 tbsp lime juice, 1 tbsp caster sugar and 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil…

Home, wherever it is, is filled with relics from the places I have travelled and the adventures I’ve enjoyed along the way. I’m always hunting for that which I have not yet discovered. I relish learning the crafts of local artisans, whether it’s throwing a vase or making orecchiette by hand, and I can’t resist gathering bits here and there that take my eye – just as a bowerbird would. Sometimes I wonder what will happen to everything when I go. I feel I’ve curated my own little museum of curiosities and collectables that may not necessarily mean anything to others, but for me, each piece tells a story. It might be a $10 oil painting from the markets in Brussels or a more exclusive sculpture from Monaco, but they…

BLOCKBUSTERS The Waiting by Michael Connelly, Allen & Unwin The world’s best-selling crime writer is back with a Ballard and Bosch mystery. Detectives Renée Ballard and Harry Bosch – along with his daughter, Patrol Officer Maddy Bosch – investigate the case of a serial killer known as the Pillowcase Rapist. It’s a complex cold case, made even more complicated when Ballard’s badge, ID and gun are stolen. Michael Connelly weaves a sticky web with The Waiting. Get stuck in it. Out in Nowhere by Fleur McDonald, Allen & Unwin Summer reads should be like Sunday mornings: easy. No-one does easy reading better than the Queen of rural lit, Fleur McDonald. In her 23rd novel featuring Detective Dave Burrows – yes, 23rd! – the country cop returns to investigate…

SOY MILK IN STORE Are you ready to make a more environmentally conscious choice in your grocery shop? Premium soy milk Happy Happy Soy Boy is now available at Coles and Woolworths Metros, RRP $4.80. This plant-based milk alternative is crafted especially for use in coffee as well as bubble tea and smoothies, delivering maximum happiness for you and the planet! Visit eatdrinkhappyhappy.com MUST-READ MEMOIR The Voice Inside is the unflinching and unforgettable memoir of music and life from the much-loved Aussie legend, John Farnham. It’s like sitting down with an old friend sharing stories that are both deeply personal and wildly entertaining. After a lifetime filled with the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, John is now telling his story, his way. RRP $49.99. Visit…

January 6,1960 In this issue ... Sydney’s Tamarama Beach was the backdrop for the striking cover shot taken of model Dawn Deidrickson wearing an unlikely beach outfit. Perhaps fitting as the first issue of the new decade was dedicated to bringing a wealth of fiction to readers. Staff artist John Mills was tasked with illustrating new serial Bond Street Story by Norman Collins. “I couldn’t put it down until I’d read every page in the first instalment,” he exclaimed on page 2. “How I’m going to get the illustration for the second instalment done, I don’t know. My wife refuses to give it back to me until she’s finished.” Also talking family was Errol Flynn’s father, Professor Theodore Thomson Flynn. After the actor’s passing, Theodore took to the pages of…

Barbie TRIBUTE Miniature milestone Ahead of her 93rd birthday, EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) winner Rita Moreno has been honoured with a Barbie. As one of only 21 to reach EGOT status, Rita’s Barbie wears a replica of the gown she donned for the Oscars in 1962 (above, with Rock Hudson and George Chakiris) and 2018. “I was a girl who decided to go for it, and ... I never gave up on my dreams,” she said. “That’s what I hope this doll inspires.” Women we love Space odyssey American scientist Emily Calandrelli became the 100th woman in space. “How lucky I am ... to experience this view,” she captioned a photo of her experience. Record-making win After achieving the rare feat of becoming a dual-sport medallist at the…

Beatrix Bracefield’s birth has been the subject of heated discussion – in the Queensland Parliament, in community meeting rooms, around kitchen tables and in supermarket aisles in her hometown of Chinchilla. Born on the side of the Warrego Highway in January 2022, hers was the birthing scenario pregnant women in the district had been dreading since their local hospital had “paused” its birthing service back in 2017. “The day Beatrix was born started like any other,” her mother, Yvette, a music teacher, tells The Weekly. She woke at 2am and then again at five with some pain. “I’d had early labour pains on and off for a couple of weeks,” Yvette says. She thought these were no different, but as a precaution moved the appointment with her midwife scheduled for…

Bronte Beach is a mere 250 metres wide, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in beauty. Its bottle-green breakers – which can be wild and dangerous – are wedged between two sandstone cliffs in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. To one side are the Bronte Baths, built in 1887, and behind it lies a swathe of bushland filled with paperbarks, she-oaks and wattles. Bronte, and its sister beach, Coogee, are also home to a new surf education program that is changing young lives. On Saturday mornings over the summer months, the participants in the Dippers program – many of whom are neurodivergent and often terrified of the beach – are gradually encouraged, week by week, year by year, to put their toes in the sand or dip their…

There’s a rustle of tulle in the wings of Sydney Opera House as a neat line of little girls in white dresses and pink ribbon sashes files into place on its iconic stage. Once the front row is complete a second falls in behind and then another, like tiers on a wedding cake. These tots are adorable and when they start to sing and dance, wide eyes fixed on their effervescent choir leader, a chorus of spontaneous sighs fills the auditorium. It’s Sunday night and the Opera House is packed to the rafters; filling the seats a melange from the very young to ... well, the considerably older. Many are previous generations of choir alumni who are now nervous parents mouthing the words as their offspring sing out, excited siblings…

Jack: It was a pretty typical night in my house. Mum was cooking dinner. I came through the door said, “We need to do something about the drought.” Mum was confused. No one really knew anything about the drought at that point. Prue: They’d watched [ABC TV program] Behind The News at school. He saw there were kids his age who weren’t able to go to school or do their sporting activities because they were having to help out on the farm. He was only 10 but something struck. He said, “We should do something about it so that people know.” He came back about an hour later, and said, “I found all of these email addresses. Can I use your email?” I said sure. Jack:…

Mini dress From left: JAG dress, $220. Country Road heels, $199. Forever New dress, $179.99. Witchery hat, $129. Review dress, $289.95. Zara sandals, $79.95. Zara dress, $105. Go from day to night by switching flats for heels. Event season From left: Kachel dress, $259. Nine West heels, $189.99. Hannah Artwear dress, $495. Olga Berg clutch, $79.95. Bohemian Traders dress, $290. Sussan earrings, $16.95. A.Emery slides, $170. Forever New dress, $179.99. Pop of red From left: Foemina dress, $310. Forever New dress, $179.99. Review heels, $159.95. Specsavers sunglasses, from $199. Spell earrings, $189. COS dress, $225. Tkees sandals, $149. Mister Zimi dress, $229. Boho print From left: Zara dress, $119. Mister Zimi sunglasses, $149. Bohemian Traders dress, $290. Review earrings, $29.95. Nim bag, $269. Kachel dress, $249. Clarks heels, $189.95. Zoe…

OVAL Considered the most versatile, you can pull off most styles, including Julia Robert’s long, layered locks with a classic centre part. HEART Go for width at the jawline and chin to balance out a wider forehead. A deep side part and chin-length bob work well for Helen Mirren. SQUARE Layered styles and longer lengths can soften a strong jawline. Try Sandra Bullock’s go-to style with a hint of balyage on the ends. ROUND Go for height and volume at the crown. Long layers and side-swept fringes are flattering, as Kirsten Dunst shows.…

1 A quick burst of stretching, yoga, or tai chi first thing. This can boost memory, and brain function and vitality. 2 Do the cyclic sigh throughout the day, proven to reduce the brain-unfriendly stress hormone cortisol. Take a big breath in through your nose, then sip in more air until your lungs are completely full. Let the breath out slowly. 3 Superpower your squats with this ancient technique for mental clarity: Cross your arms and squeeze each earlobe as you squat. Pressing this acupressure point sends an electrical signal to the brain, boosting cognitive clarity. 4 Journaling. In the morning, it sets you up for a clearheaded day, and in the evening, it lets you put any worrying thoughts to bed for better sleep. 5 Spend time…

Apricot chicken skewers SERVES 4-6 PREP + COOK TIME 1 HOUR ½ cup (160g) apricot jam ½ cup (125ml) lemon juice 1 tablespoon mustard powder 2 teaspoons smoked paprika ½ teaspoon curry powder 3 cloves garlic, crushed 1/3 cup (80ml) extra virgin olive oil 1kg chicken thigh fillets, cut into 3cm pieces 1.5 cups (280g) long grain rice 6 firm apricots, quartered 3 green onions, sliced thinly 1/2 cup chopped flat leaf parsley leaves 1/4 cup finely shredded mint leaves 2 tablespoons chopped pistachios 1 Combine apricot jam, 1/3 cup (80ml) of the lemon juice, mustard, paprika, curry powder, garlic and ¼ cup (60ml) of the oil in a large bowl. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper. 2 Combine the chicken and half the apricot jam…

Zucchini, white bean, fetta & dill patties SERVES 4 PREP + COOK TIME 40 MINUTES 2 x 400g cans organic cannellini beans 2 small (200g) zucchini, grated 4 free-range egg yolks 135g crumbled Greek-style fetta 2 tablespoons chopped dill 2 tablespoons chopped tarragon ½ cup (75g) plain flour, plus extra for dusting 1 teaspoon sea salt flakes pinch ground white pepper 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 480g fresh ricotta lemon wedges, salad and parsley leaves, to serve 1 Rinse cannellini beans and drain well. Place into a large bowl and gently mash with the back of a fork. 2 Add the grated zucchini, egg yolks, fetta, dill, tarragon and the ½ cup of plain flour. Season with salt and white pepper and gently mix to combine. 3…

Caprese mushrooms SERVES 1 PREP + COOK TIME 40 MINUTES 3 medium portobello mushrooms, trimmed 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil 1 large ripe tomato, sliced thickly 1 fresh buffalo mozzarella, drained, sliced rocket leaves, for serving PESTO ⅔ cup firmly packed basil leaves ⅔ cup firmly packed mint leaves 1 clove garlic, peeled, halved 2 tablespoons grated pecorino or parmesan 1 tablespoon pine nuts, lightly toasted ⅓ cup (80ml) extra virgin olive oil 1 Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan-forced). Line an oven tray with baking paper. Place a wire rack on tray. 2 Place mushrooms on wire rack, stem-side up. Brush with oil; season. Bake for 15 minutes or until softened slightly. 3 PESTO Meanwhile, blend or process all ingredients until just combined. Season to…

Q: How often should I replace my mattress topper? A: Experts say that while a good mattress topper can last up to five years there are three sure-fire signs you’re ready for a replacement. 1. Tears and/or stains A sign your topper might be harbouring bacteria, dust mites or worse. Tears also expose the inners to damage. 2. Musty smell This can mean mould has infiltrated, especially if accompanied by small black dots on the material. 3. Uncomfortable sleep Given a topper is supposed to increase comfort, if yours is no longer feeling supportive or isn’t performing as per usual, it’s time to upgrade. Downia Hotel Collection mattress topper, from $159, Cutting A RUG Coming to our shores Cult US brand Ruggable (renowned for their artist collabs…

2025 special Did you KNOW ? Kazakhstan is No. 5 on Lonely Planet’s top 10 countries to visit in 2025. Getting off the beaten track is a big theme for travel in 2025 and it promises to be pleasurable. For while there are places where over-tourism can cause resentment, the flip side to it is under-tourism – worthy but neglected destinations where visitors are rare and revered. Places where your tourist buck goes a whole lot further than, say, in Paris, Venice or New York. One example is the five “Stans” along the cultural crossroads between Asia, Europe and the Middle East: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. World Expeditions CEO Sue Badyari recently returned from Kyrgyzstan and is singing its praises. Here, she says, you’ll get an incredibly…

Capricorn Dec 22 -Jan 20 As the new year’s sun shines on Capricorn birthday celebrations, you’ll find the fun in fundamentals. Mercury in your strategic, goal-setting sign for the larger part of January engages you in the art of playing the long game: positioning yourself for success by organising, planning and setting up connections to help you thrive in 2025. Practical Capricorn is regarded as the provider sign, and this year’s nodal axis invites you to offer your accumulated experience to the wider community, perhaps passing on your expertise by mentoring or teaching. Aquarius Jan 21 -Feb 19 The transiting nodes in astrology outline our journey and progress through life. South node shows our familiar, well-worn operating modes: the been there, done that story. North node directs us to what…