Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 2009 i Woman's Day Magazine NZ

In what’s been described as one of the most-revealing interviews ever given by a senior royal, Kate chatted openly about all things motherhood – including pregnancy and birth. Speaking on podcast Happy Mum Happy Baby about the severe morning sickness that has plagued all three of her pregnancies, she admitted to being “not the happiest of pregnant people”. “Lots of people have it far worse but it was definitely a challenge,” she said. “Not just you, but those around you. William didn’t feel he could do much to help. It’s hard for everyone to see you suffering when they can’t do anything about it. I felt utterly rotten.” She opened up about the practice of hypnobirthing, which she used for all three of her labours, and expressed her amazement at…

Over the past few months songstress Adele has wowed the world with her dramatic weight loss – dropping an astonishing 45kg in less than a year. And the “Hello” hitmaker initially revelled in the attention, posing for photographs of her newly svelte self with the Spice Girls and soaking up the sun in the Caribbean. But just lately something else has got under Adele’s skin! Over the past two weeks the singer has been spotted in public looking uncharacteristically grumpy – twice using a well-manicured finger to flip the bird to surprised onlookers! Now insiders dish that the “Rolling in the Deep” singer is feeling some serious speed-wobbles from her dramatic metamorphosis, and has turned into a “hangry nightmare”. A friend dishes, “It’s like every time she gets in and…

Dancing queen After wowing the UK public with her fancy moves, Caroline and Pasha Kovalev won Britain’s version of Dancing with the Stars, Strictly Come Dancing, in 2014. Royal dates Caroline hooked up with the now Duke of Sussex in 2009, when he was 25 and she was 29, not long after he split from Zimbabwean socialite Chelsy Davy. “I was Prince Harry’s bit of rough,” she said later. Loved host Love Island narrator Ian Stirling (above) voiced a 73-second tribute to his mate, saying, “I want to thank you for all the fun times we had making our favourite show.” Right: Winning a BAFTA award in 2018.…

Trouble ahead? Britney Spears was seen for the first time in months looking worse for wear on her way to a tanning salon in Los Angeles, going braless in a tight crop top, denim shorts and a moon boot. “Britney’s been in a bad way since losing more custody of her boys Sean and Jayden in September,” an insider claims. “She’s been struggling with her mental health issues, turning to alcohol in a bid to mask her pain and displaying increasingly erratic behaviour, which has sparked fears she could be heading for another breakdown. “She broke her foot in three places following a drunken stumble at her Calabasas mansion, which fuelled concerns her boozing has spiralled out of control – something pals say has worsened since the revelation  her conservatorship…

She’s made no secret of the fact that she’s worked as a scantily-clad bikini model, but bride Natasha Spencer has found herself at the centre of a vicious sex tape scandal that’s threatening to derail her life! Speaking exclusively to Woman’s Day, the brunette beauty, 26, holds back tears as she reveals a former lover has left her “feeling gutted”, thanks to his reckless decision to share a video online of her nude and cuddling up to her one-time lover. “I was first notified of the video circulating last month,” reveals Natasha, adding she’s become a panicky and anxious mess over the situation. “A close friend of mine who works in construction told me the video was being passed around by tradies.” She says she’s been subjected to vile abuse…

It was a murder that shook the nation. Grace Millane, young and vibrant, strangled to death by her Tinder date on the eve of her 22nd birthday. As New Zealanders battled shock and disbelief, the British backpacker inadvertently became the face of violence against women in our country. “People could see a sister or a friend or cousin in her,” says The Project host Kanoa Lloyd. “The faces of survivors of sexual or domestic violence are usually anonymous. They can be people we’re working with or people we know from school, but it’s often so private and secretive we never find out.” The 33-year-old is one of a number of people who are getting behind a new initiative, Love Grace, started by Grace’s cousin Hannah O’Callaghan in London, and hopes…

CHICKEN & SNAKE BEAN STIR-FRY SERVES 4 PREP & COOK 20 MINUTES 2/3 cup jasmine rice 1 tbsp peanut oil 800g chicken thigh fillets, thickly sliced 2 onions, thickly sliced 3 garlic cloves, crushed 1 tsp five-spice powder 400g beans, cut into 5cm lengths ½ cup oyster sauce 2 tbsp light soy sauce ½ cup cashews, toasted ½ cup loosely packed fresh Thai basil leaves 1 fresh long red chilli, thinly sliced diagonally 1 Cook rice according to packet directions until tender; drain. 2 Heat half the oil in a wok over high heat, stir-frying chicken in batches until browned all over and cooked through. Remove from wok.om wok. 3 Heat remaining oil in wok, stir-frying onion, garlic and five-spice powder for 3 minutes or until onion softens. Add beans…

The sweet spot CHOOSE THE RIGHT SUGAR EVERY TIME WITH OUR SIMPLE GUIDE RAW SUGAR The subtle, honey-like taste makes this a great option for sprinkling over the top of cakes before baking. BROWN SUGAR A mild toffee flavour makes this the ultimate dessert sugar for use in recipes such as sticky date pudding. PURE ICING SUGAR Made from 100% pure cane sugar that’s been finely ground, this is your failsafe option for beautifully set royal icing. DEMERARA SUGAR This adds a rich toffee flavour to dishes. Sprinkle over fruit before grilling or toss through a crumble topping. COCONUT SUGAR An unrefined sugar, this complements savoury Asian dishes and salad dressings. CASTER SUGAR The fine sugar crystals dissolve quickly and evenly, so it’s perfect for baking. This also allows more…

The stick Perfect for the time-poor, just swipe on, blend with fingers and go. Solid wind-up formulations mean you can easily use eye or cheek products for smoky eye and a cheeky flush, while foundation sticks are useful for adding a little coverage where you need it. Velvet Margot Robbie’s look for the Screen Actors Guild Awards featured on-trend dark roots in her blonde locks, as well as a velvety nude lip. With a soft but shine-free finish, velvet-finish products offer clever micro-doses of hydration, so they last well, feel weightless and comfortable, and don’t dry out like traditional matte formulations. Plus, the depth of colour is incredible. Jelly It’s the current skincare trend du jour, and the bouncy, springy surface of the new jelly bronzers and highlighters is addictive.…

Keeping fit needn’t cost a lot of money, but if you’re finding yourself lacking in motivation, there are some great gadgets available these days to help you stay on track. In fact, monitoring your health and fitness at home has never been easier, with technology helping you obtain better feedback about what’s happening in your body. The more insights you can gain into your health, the better placed you’ll be when it comes to looking at how you can improve it. Smart watch Ranging in price from about $50 to over $1000, smart watches help you track your fitness and health at any time of the day. One of the handiest functions on virtually all of them is the pedometer or step counter. Knowing just how many steps you take…

It’s empty-nest time for many around the country as kids head off to uni and set up their new lives in their new little parts of the world. And that includes us. We shed three family members in a week. I think that’s less “leaving the nest” and more having it ripped right open. There are only two remaining children at home. One has gone overseas to study, one to the South Island to study and one went flatting. Boom! Gone! Did we cry buckets and lament the quietness of the house? Actually, no. We were thrilled to see them on their way. Thrilled to see them chasing their dreams and heading off into the world. Thrilled to watch them set off to conquer all the challenges of starting up…

Elisabeth Moss has made a career out of playing women who find themselves in distressing situations, but with her latest thriller she’s taking things tothenextlevelin The Invisible Man. Based on H.G. Wells’ 1897 sci-fi novel of the same name, the film takes the titular character and turns him into the antagonist in this twisted tale. Cecilia (Elisabeth) is trying to move on from her violent and controlling ex (Oliver Jackson-Cohen), when she is informed that he has killed himself and left her $5 million of his fortune. The catch? She can’t cash it in if she’s found to be “mentally incompetent”. Soon Cecilia is being tormented by an unseen force confirming her suspicions that Adrian isn’t dead at all and has somehow turned himself invisible. This updated take on a…

THE LORD OF THE RINGS It was the trilogy that threw New Zealand into the limelight and, while it was shot across multiple locations, Hobbiton in Matamata is a must-visit for fans. Take a tour of the famous attraction, being sure to snap a picture outside Frodo’s door. KING KONG Sir Peter Jackson certainly knows how to showcase our country. Filmed mostly in Wellington, it was Auckland’s Civic Theatre that came alive as the magnificent New York Theatre where Kong escapes. THE PIANO Who could forget the iconic scene on Karekare Beach featuring Holly Hunt, Anna Paquin and a grand piano? Dame Jane Campion’s 1993 drama was also filmed on farms in Matakana and Taranaki, while the epic underwater scenes were shot in the Bay of Islands. THE LAST SAMURAI…

AMERICAN DIRT JEANINE CUMMINS (Hachette, rrp $34.99) When Lydia’s entire family are murdered by a gang in Acapulco, she has to make the long journey to America with her eight-year-old son Luca in order to survive. With the gang leader’s reach extending across South America, they must try to stay one step ahead as they head north, encountering both the best and worst of humanity along the way. THE FOUNDLING STACEY HALLS (Allen & Unwin, rrp $23.99) Six years after leaving her illegitimate newborn at London’s Foundling Hospital, shrimp seller Bess Bright returns to take her home. But when she gets there she is told that her daughter has already been claimed by someone else. Determined, Bess turns her life upside down in order to find her girl…

I AM NOT OKAY WITH THIS Wednesday on Netflix RATING: Navigating high-school awkwardness, family drama and sexuality is never easy, but doing all of that while discovering your own superpowers is near impossible! From the producers of Stranger Things, this is a must for fans of the supernatural. ALTERED CARBON Thursday on Netflix RATING: In a world where humans can store their consciousness and transplant ‘themselves’ into other bodies, you can guarantee there’s going to be chaos. This futuristic drama series returns for a second season, mixing mortality and ethics in the most exciting way. BETTER CALL SAUL Monday on Lightbox RATING: Season five of this Breaking Bad spin-off kicks off this week. Jimmy, now doing business as Saul Goodman, unveils an unorthodox strategy that tests Kim’s tolerance of his…

Pisces FEB 20 – MAR 20 New moons often herald fresh starts, so let yourself dream about the future – or reignite a passion from your past. Travel plans may materialise for some, while for others, a friend’s suggestion could snowball into a full-scale plan. Don’t feel guilty about indulging yourself this weekend as you need it. Aries MAR 21 – APR 20 Still weighing up pros and cons? Forget logic and listen to your heart instead. As Neptune heightens your intuition, random feelings may prove to be anything but. Look out for someone from your past – they could soon play a pivotal role. Remember, destiny works in weird and wonderful ways. Taurus APR 21 – MAY 21 Your reliable reputation might be tested this week, but hey, no-one’s…

This week we have Grace Millane in our hearts and minds. The 28-year-old man who murdered this beautiful soul on the eve of her 22nd birthday was sentenced to 17 years behind bars on Friday. Her family spoke of their emotional pain and suffering via a video link from London, a photo of their beloved Grace hanging on the wall behind them. Sadly, her murder has been a stark reminder of New Zealand’s appalling record of violence against women. Responding to family violence accounts for 40% of frontline police time in our country – but still half of the homicides here are related to domestic abuse. When statistics show that one in three Kiwi women are abused by a partner – and not all incidents are reported – it seems…

Just weeks after Peter and Autumn Phillips’ divorce revelation, the Queen’s nephew the Earl of Snowdon has revealed the end of his marriage after 26 years. In a statement released last week, a spokesman said, “The Earl and Countess of Snowdon have amicably agreed that their marriage has come to an end and that they shall be divorced. They ask that the press respect their privacy.” The earl, David Armstrong-Jones, is the son of the late Princess Margaret and photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones. He and wife Serena have two grown-up children, Viscount Linley, Charles Armstrong-Jones and Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones. The Queen is said to be saddened by the news, which “came out of the blue”. Says a source, “Two divorces in the space of a few weeks has been very upsetting…

In the past year, several reports have emerged out of the US that all is not well between George and Amal Clooney – and friends say that after a particularly rough four months, this may be the end for one of the world’s most famous couples. Sources tell Woman’s Day the pair – who are parents to two-year-old twins Alexander and Ella – have been “like ships in the night”, and have barely seen each other for 120 days, since a trip to New York together in late October. “Even then, you could tell things were tense between them,” says an insider. “Amal seemed very focused on her job as a guest professor at Columbia University, whereas George was on his own path, socialising with his pals and leaving the…

They split in 2015 after 10 years of marriage, but Ben Affleck still has only loving things to say about his ex Jennifer Gardner. The 47-year-old, who is set to star as an alcoholic struggling to overcome his demons in upcoming flick The Way Back – something he knows all too much about – has opened up about his battle with addiction and his divorce. “What I want to say publicly and privately is, ‘Thank you. Thank you for being thoughtful, considerate, responsible, and a great mum and person,’” he said in a statement read on his behalf following an interview where he confessed, “I didn’t want to get divorced, I didn’t want to be a divorced person, I really didn’t want to be a split family with my children.…

Oh baby! Matthew Perry has made no secret of the fact he’s always wanted to be a dad – and now his dream is coming true! Shortly after a gushing Valentine’s Day tribute to her man, Molly Hurwitz spilled to close pals that she’s expecting a baby with him. “While it’s early days, they’re both over the moon and can’t wait to become parents,” says a source. Meeting and falling in love with talent manager Molly, 28, changed everything for Matthew, 50. “He’s credited her with helping him clean up his life for good and stay on the straight and narrow – now giving him even more reason with a baby on the way.” The loved-up couple have been house-hunting for their “dream family home” in Los Angeles, but in…

‘After all of these years, their kids’ questionable choices could be what finally breaks them’ If it’s not one kid, then it’s the other. For more than three months, Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber’s 18-year-old model daughter Kaia made headlines as she romanced troubled comedian Pete Davidson, 26, from New York to Los Angeles to Miami. Weeks later her big brother Presley Gerber, 20, thrust himself into the spotlight when he debuted a tattoo of the word “Misunderstood ” on his face on February 7. After he was mercilessly trolled for it on social media, the model lashed out, posting a video of himself shooting a gun, saying he’s never been “innocent”, and offering to give out his home address so haters could confront him in person. All the drama…

As Lleyton Barrow stands at the top of a 20-metre slip and slide, peering down the grassy slope, his stomach does somersaults. He’s nervous but excited as he dives onto the soapy water and glides down on his stomach, his arms stretched out like Superman. It might be steep, but the Christchurch schoolboy has battled far scarier challenges. A group of boys egg Lleyton on, proudly baring similar scars on their chests from open heart surgeries. Like Lleyton, the other 89 kids at the day’s camp have a heart defect. Some of the volunteers do too. The nine-year-old’s mum Claire Sword, 33, is one of them. As a kid she attended the annual Heart Kids New Zealand camp herself, which Lleyton attended for the first time this year. “I started…

FLUFFY MILK ROLLS MAKES 9 PREPARATION & COOKING 1 HOUR STARTER 90ml a2 MilkTM by AnchorTM , plus ½ cup extra 2 tablespoons high-grade flour 1 egg 55g melted butter DOUGH 2½ cups high-grade flour ¼ cup sugar 1 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon instant yeast GLAZE 1 egg 1 tablespoon a2 MilkTM by AnchorTM 1 STARTER. In a small saucepan, whisk together the first measure of milk and flour until smooth. Cook over a low heat, whisking continuously for 3-5 minutes or until the mixture forms a smooth thick paste. Set aside to cool. When cool, mix in the second measure of milk, egg and melted butter. 2 DOUGH. Combine flour, sugar, salt and yeast in the bowl of a mixer fitted with a dough hook (or a bread machine). Mix at low…

GET YOUR FIBRE FIX If brownies have traditionally been a big no-no in your healthy eating regimen, then good news! You can indulge guilt-free with a Fibre One Chocolate Fudge Brownie, a good source of fibre with chocolate flavoured fudge pieces and drizzle. It’s the delicious fix you’re craving, without all the calories. Available in supermarkets nationwide, rrp $4.79. Meat-free magic Flexitarians rejoice! It’s now a whole lot easier to choose  a meat-free meal from fast food giant Burger King. The new Rebel Whopper is 100% Whopper, 0% meat – and the team at Woman’s Day can attest to its tastiness. The sizeable burger consists of a juicy, flame-grilled, plant-based patty, topped with tomatoes, lettuce, mayonnaise, ketchup, pickles and onions on a toasted sesame seed bun. The patty is cooked…

Q I am confused about the talk about our carbon footprints and the impact air travel has on the world. But really, does that mean Kiwis have to stay put at home and not travel overseas in order to save the planet? I am confused. What are your thoughts? Fly Girl, via email POLLY SAYS Great question. It’s a brain-splitter, right? You can offset your carbon footprint by making a donation when you buy your flights online. You can also go to various websites, including sustainable.org.nz, to calculate your carbon footprint and then offset that amount with good deeds. Q My 25-year-old daughter’s new boyfriend is nice enough, but he is seven years older than her and he has a couple of kids, who spend every second weekend with him.…

START HERE! 1989 BACK TO THE FUTURE PART II Elijah made his film debut at the age of eight with a small part in this classic time-travel tale. 1992 RADIO FLYER The actor’s bowl cut and bright blue eyes featured in this charming tale of fantasy and brotherly bonding. 1993 THE ADVENTURES OF HUCK FINN At just 12 years old, Elijah brought Mark Twain’s iconic character to life in this tale of compassion and friendship. 1993 THE GOOD SON Elijah played the reluctant protagonist in this psychological thriller opposite a chilling performance from Macaulay Culkin. 2001 THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING The child prodigy got his big break in Sir Peter Jackson’s blockbuster franchise, starring as tormented hobbit Frodo Baggins. 2004 ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE…

PODCAST The Shrink Next Door If you’re on the hunt for a new true-crime addiction, look no further! This six-part series tells the  unbelievable story of how successful businessman Marty Markowitz lived under the control of his psychiatrist for almost 30 years. MOVIE Horse Girl Available on Netflix Alison Brie gives an incredible performance in this tense drama about a shy woman who slowly loses touch with reality as she starts to believe she is a clone of her grandmother, and disturbing lucid dreams take over her waking life. EVENT Winding Up ASB Waterfront Theatre, Auckland – Until March 8 Local acting legends Alison Quigan and Mark Hadlow tread  the boards in a new play showing the lighter side of the golden years. Barry and Gen may be retired, but…

QUIT LIKE A WOMAN Holly Whitaker (Bloomsbury, rrp $29.99) She’s been running her blog Hip Sobriety for years and now Holly has penned her first book. She delves into both society as a whole and her own history with alcohol, while giving solid self-care advice. THE ART OF REST Claudia Hammond (Canongate, rrp $32.99) Mindfulness and the importance of sleep have been in the spotlight for a while, but not much has been said about rest. Examining its significance in the modern age, this book also explores the top 10 ways of finding rest. TINY HABITS BJ Fogg (Penguin, rrp $32) New year, new you? Chances are those big plans have gone out the window, and it’s only February! Tiny Habits explores why and how we need to start small…

Inspiring the young A few years ago, our school decided to create a Walk of Greatness display. This involved students researching a Kiwi they thought was a great role model. One of the students selected Charlie Thomas because of her love of wildlife. It was great to read in your recent issue (WD, Feb 24) that Charlie is still a dedicated environmentalist, and I wish her luck for her adventure in Hawaii. S Goodall, Christchurch Mum’s the word I was sorry to read of Duchess Kate’s struggle (WD, Feb 10) as she balances long work hours, time with her family and the stress of Harry and Meghan leaving. Add the pressure of constantly being on show and some sleepless nights, and the strain could certainly affect her mental health. I…

Pip’s passing AMANDA SAYS: Pip shows me that she’s now passed over and she’s with her best friend Clive, who she lived with. Clive met Pip when she passed over. These two have very different personalities, but both adored their owner Jenny and her partner. Pip tells me she had dementia before she passed, but they don’t take those ailments over with them. When she was younger, she was very, very intelligent. Pip shows me she had fluid on the lungs before she passed and she knows that Jenny donated all her natural medication to the dog home after she passed. Pip was very nurturing, and if you were sick she would be right beside you. The day of Pip’s passing, she knew Jenny had taken her to the vet.…

The night before she died, Love Island host Caroline Flack spent hours chilling with two close friends, enjoying milk and cookies and desperately trying to remain upbeat despite her impending court case. Less than 24 hours later the vivacious star was found lifeless in her London apartment, leaving devastated family and friends to mourn a life which they felt could quite easily have been saved. Caroline’s death by suicide was a heartbreaking outcome for the 40-year-old, who had one of the most envied careers on UK TV. Growing up in England with her Coca-Cola sales rep dad Ian, mum Christine and three siblings including her twin Jody, the bubbly blonde sought out the limelight from a young age, acting in village pantomimes. At 23, she began landing small TV presenting…

It’s wedding bells for Jenna Dewan and her partner, actor Steve Kazee! The couple, who are expecting their first child, announced their engagement last week. Sharing a gorgeous photo of the pair kissing, Jenna, 39, showed off her ring, saying, “A lifetime to love and grow with you … you have my heart.” Steve, 44, also posted a touching message to his future wife, saying, “When you wake in the morning I will kiss your face with a smile no-one has ever seen. When you wake in the morning I will kiss your eyes and say it’s you I have loved all these years.”…

As the Duke of York rose to give a speech at his ex-wife’s 60th birthday party last October, none of the guests assembled at their Windsor home, Royal Lodge, knew quite what to expect. It was not just that it came after a torrid summer of headlines about his friendship with the paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, who’d died by suicide in his prison cell two months earlier. With word having spread that the duke was desperate to speak out on the scandal, was he about to bare his soul? Or worse, try to make light of the situation? Yet Andrew read the mood correctly. Appearing close to tears, he took guests back to the day he locked eyes with Sarah Ferguson at a Windsor Castle event in 1985. “I fell…

‘People are still too scared to tell me everything, so I’m still finding things out slowly’ Two minutes before she lost her life, pregnant teenager Halayna Wagstaff desperately tried to escape the vice-like grip of her boyfriend. The 17-year-old, urged by others to take her partner Jason Anaru-Emery home from a party, had already been attacked by him earlier in the evening. He’d grabbed her by her neck and thrown her around a room in front of others. Now parked up on the main street of Te Puke, the athletic teen made a desperate dash for freedom, opening her car door and running away from the father of her unborn child, only to be caught and dragged back into the front seat. According to evidence given in the Hamilton High…

‘WHAT MY BODY DID IS INCREDIBLE’ I’ll be honest, I was initially in shock by how much my body changed after having a baby,” admits Sofia Dickson, who was so slim pre-kids that she was often called “Twiggy” by her friends. “But then one day something clicked,” she recalls. “I started seeing my body as amazing and beautiful.” In fact, fast-forward to today and the mum of two preschoolers admits that she has the body of her dreams, a curvy size 14. “I finally have these curves and boobs,” Sofia exclaims. “I love my new body more than I ever did when I was very slim.” The stay-at-home mum admits that she loved every aspect of becoming a mother, from pregnancy to childbirth and breastfeeding. “I have a newfound respect…

1 STAY COOL  Will & Grace star Debra Messing (above) loves CoolSculpting, a non-surgical treatment that uses cooling to crystallise fat cells. Within a few weeks, the cells die – and new ones don’t come back in their place. “I have fat frozen off of my body [so] three months later I can feel a little bit better in a bathing suit,” says Debra. 2 STEM THE TIDE  Asparagus and bananas are good sources of inulin, a prebiotic fibre associated with reductions in waist circumference and belly fat accumulation. Researchers also found that increased fibre intake can lead to a decrease in the harmful fat that surrounds your organs, which is linked to illnesses. 3 GET INTENSE  UK medical director Dr Luke James says, “Only doing abdominal-focused…

I know some humans manage to be both dog and cat people, but my foot is firmly in the former. I can’t help it. I’ve just never had much luck with felines. Desperate for a kitten as a kid, we finally got one from the SPCA only for it to spend its life hiding under the house, in the bush or biting and scratching at the hand that tried to feed it. What can I say? I took it personally. And I’m allergic. What’s more, I think cats actually like that. Our house has been a cat-free zone in the 21 years we’ve had dogs. But we’ve been without a canine for 18 months now and the neighbourhood moggies are staying to take the mickey. I see them, out there…

What would it be like to be a Real Housewife of some fabulous TV town? Not Auckland – that was not very Kiwi. But maybe Orange County? New York? Beverly Hills or Cheshire? I’ve told friends that in my next life I’ll be a “trophy wife”, and they have one of two reactions. The first is, “Oh Polly! Tut-tut. That’s an awful goal. You’re a smart woman. And you call yourself a feminist!” When I hear this, I think, “Oh shut up. On the inside I’m a supermodel, but I’m hiding under an imperfect face and a layer of chub.” The second reaction is, “Oh stop it! You’d be so bored!” To this I roll my eyes and demand that I wouldn’t ever be bored. I’d shop and make marmalade,…

True crime has long been an inspiration for films and TV shows, but these documentary series focus on the real people involved, and delve into the minds of killers and criminals. MAKING A MURDERER Available on Netflix He served 18 years in prison for a wrongful conviction. Two years after his release, Steven Avery was charged with murder. This series explores the events leading to his first arrest and eventual return to life behind bars. DON’T F**K WITH CATS Available on Netflix This is the story of how internet sleuths analysed disturbing videos that murderer Luka Magnotta posted of himself doing atrocious things to cats, in their attempt to track him down and bring him to justice. MURDER FOR HIRE Available on Neon You thought your nine-to-five was gritty –…

LOVESTRUCK BRONWYN SELL (HarperCollins, rrp $32.99) Amy heads to her family’s resort in the Whitsundays for her father’s wedding – to another man. Always put in the ‘friend zone’, Amy realises that her dad and dancer mum have more of a love life than she does, making it all the more devastating when she feels The Pull for Josh, who turns out to be her future stepbrother, which means nothing can happen between them – or does it? Meanwhile, cousin Harry, who has been bruised in love before, finds fellow guest and jilted bride Sophia more attractive than he should. Matriarch and meddler Nan has high hopes for her grandchildren to have children to one day take over from her, and she doesn’t mind “arranging” for things to happen…