Indholdsfortegnelse for 9 September 2019 i New Idea

You’ve got to feel sorry for the Queen. She’s 93 and has spent 67 years on the throne. By rights she should be enjoying her twilight years, safe in the knowledge the monarchy she has dutifully upheld will endure long after her passing. Instead she is having to process the tawdry allegations that are swirling around her favourite child. The Queen has endured plenty. But as she copes with an ailing husband, warring grandchildren and a nation jittery over Brexit, despite Prince Andrew denying his involvement, her son being caught up in the Epstein scandal will have hit her hard. However implacable she may appear, we know the Queen is deeply affected by scandals and disasters that impact her family. She declared 1992 an “annus horribilis” – a horrible year…

Former couple Emma Watkins and Lachlan Gillespie are well and truly ready to move on with their lives, as Yellow Wiggle Emma reveals she still has hopes of having children, just as her ex has reportedly found new love. Speaking to The Daily Telegraph a year after she and Lachlan announced their split, Emma spoke about her plans for the future, including kids. “All of my friends have children but I’m thinking I’ve still got a lot to do,” she said. The dancer and singer also opened up about the fertility challenges she expects to face due to her ongoing battle with endometriosis. “I would actually have to try quite hard and I know with the endo I probably wouldn’t be able to plan it out anyway.” Her comments came…

From the outside, it might seem like celebrity trainer Michelle Bridges has the work-life juggling act down pat. But speaking to New Idea, she revealed that there have been times when she neglected to make her own needs a priority – and it left her overwhelmed and struggling. “There have been moments when the wheels have completely fallen off,” she said, while talking about her role as ambassador of Medibank’s Live Better campaign. “It’s that feeling when you’re completely pushed against the wire trying to keep everything in life balanced, and you know that you’re not giving yourself any of that balance.” “You feel completely overwhelmed, anxious, pressured, as though you’re not getting anything accomplished,” continued Michelle, who’s a mum to 3-year-old Axel and stepmum to partner Steve ‘Commando’ Willis’…

It was a low key announcement, but one that formalised what royal watchers have anticipated for months and has left Kate heartbroken. The foundation set up by William and Harry 10 years ago to support their charitable work is no longer. Now a royal source tells New Idea that the Duchess of Cambridge is so devastated at what she sees as the final step towards a complete division between her and William and his brother and wife, that she felt forced to flee. “Kate has been left really rattled by her and Wills’ split from Harry and Meghan,” says a palace source. “She’s incredibly upset by the whole situation and can’t believe it’s come to this – and things have ended so badly between the four of them. This sort…

Last week in New York, Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged victim Virginia Roberts Giuffre urged the royal prince to divulge what he had done in the past, saying that he needs to “come clean” about his alleged actions. Virginia claimed in a 2015 lawsuit that she’d been forced to have sexual relations with Prince Andrew when she was 17 and that Epstein kept her as a sex slave. She, along with other women who’ve accused the deceased billionaire of sex trafficking, was invited to court by the presiding judge in the criminal case that’s drawing to a close following Epstein’s suicide last month. After making a statement, the now 35-year-old was asked about Andrew. She replied: “He knows what he has done and he can attest to that,” adding, “He knows exactly…

He seems like a sweet, sensitive soul, but could Matt Agnew’s nice-guy persona that we see on television be nothing more than an act? We can reveal just moments before these pictures were taken of this year’s Bachelor laughing and joking around on set with members of the crew, that the astrophysicist had just come from a dumping and left one of the girls in tears. Seemingly unaffected by the upsetting scene, in the photos Matt shows no signs of any distress. It’s not the first time his on-screen persona has been called into question. He’s admitted that he likes to be “suitably vague and … [keep] the audience guessing”, and although he sells himself as an astrophysicist, it turns out he works in data analysis for one of the…

Rapper D.Minor had the Australia’s Got Talent judges in tears when he sang an original song about his experience of homelessness as a young child. Ahead of his semi-final performance he’s opened up to New Idea about how difficult those years were. “Growing up, I experienced a lot of homelessness with my twin brother. Then we got put into the refuge system and just bounced between different foster homes,” D.Minor reveals. “There was a period where we did go to separate foster homes and we just thought it was a temporary thing, but then a lot of time passed and I thought I’d lost him. It wasn’t until later that I got put into a short-term refuge where people came and went all the time, and one day they said…

Throughout his playing days, former NRL star Todd Carney was never far from controversy. Since then, the footy player has vowed to mend his ways, as he prepares to tackle his biggest challenge – fatherhood, with his partner, Married at First Sight’s Susie Bradley. “If Susie and I are ready to commit to it, I’d definitely love to have kids,” an enthusiastic Todd, 33, tells New Idea. Up to now, he’s been earning his parenting stripes looking after Susie’s 4-year-old daughter, Baby. “She has her own father, but while Baby’s in my care, I treat her as if she’s my own,” Todd says. “It definitely makes you realise you have other people to care for when you put yourself in [the] position [of being a parent].” The loved-up couple met…

She may only be 118cm tall, but 5-year-old Lili Taione has the courage of a lion – and she’s got the medal to prove it. Heroic Lili dragged her unconscious mother Sacha Whitehead, 30, out of their home when a faulty gas heater began leaking deadly carbon monoxide in June. Despite suffering the effects herself, Lili then valiantly ran to a neighbour’s place for help. “The doctor said if we’d been in the house for another hour, we would have died,” says Sacha. “I started feeling tired and drained about 4.30pm,” the Frenchs Forest, Sydney, mum recalls. “I thought it was from the gym that day. I went to stand up and felt a little bit dizzy. “There was a little part of me that wondered if it was the…

Rich Chocolate Custard Waffle Pudding Serves 8-10, Prep and Cook: 1 hour, 10 mins 2 x 275g pkts Golden waffles(10) 100g dark chocolate, coarsely chopped Icing sugar mixture, sifted cocoa, to decorate Vanilla ice-cream, to serve CUSTARD 200g block dark chocolate, finely chopped 2½ cups milk 300ml tub thickened cream 1 tsp vanilla extract 6 eggs, at room temperature ¹/ ³ cup caster sugar 1 Arrange waffles, slightly overlapping, over base of a large, rectangular ovenproof dish (12-cup capacity) (22cm x 30cm x 5cm deep). Scatter with chocolate. 2 To make custard, combine chocolate, milk, cream and vanilla in a large saucepan. Stir over a low heat until chocolate is melted. Don’t boil. Remove. Cool slightly. 3 Whisk eggs and sugar in a large bowl. Whisk in chocolate mixture until…

Choc-Caramel Pikelet Pudding Serves 4-6, Prep and Cook: 45 mins 200g packet pikelets (8), halved 180g block Caramello chocolate, broken into pieces 1½ cups milk ¾ cup thickened cream 3 eggs ½ cup Hershey’s Caramel Syrup Extra caramel syrup and vanilla ice-cream, to serve 1 Grease a 22cm round x 6cm deep, ovenproof dish (7-cup capacity). 2 Arrange pikelets in a circle, slightly overlapping in prepared dish, placing half the chocolate in between the pikelets. Scatter over remaining chocolate. 3 Combine milk and cream in a heatproof jug. Microwave on High (100%) for about 2 minutes, or until warm. 4 Whisk eggs into syrup in a jug. Gradually whisk into milk mixture. 5 Pour over pikelets. Sit dish in a large roasting pan. Pour enough boiling water into pan to…

Lancôme With added knowledge and research into the workings of the skin’s microbiome, this new formula of Advanced Génifique promises to protect, regulate and repair skin and promote a visibly younger appearance thanks to the seven prebiotic and probiotic fractions included in the serum. Ella Baché Meet your daily dose of hydration. This solution is packed with nourishing ingredients including hyaluronic acid to hydrate and witch hazel and MariMoist to soothe skin. It’s the perfect partner in crime to keep deskside or in your handbag to fight any signs of dehydration throughout the day in one spritz. THE INKEY LIST Having recently launched in Australia at Sephora, this skincare brand brings affordable beauty to the masses, with all products in the range under $23. Our pick of products to try…

MERE MALE Our daughter brought her new boyfriend home to meet us. At 11pm MM and I headed upstairs to bed. “I think I’ll go and say goodbye to Jen’s boyfriend,” said MM. “Come on,” I replied, “Don’t forget how we were at that age.” “You’re right” MM exclaimed, “He’s definitely leaving now!” S. WILLIAMS, CROYDON HILLS, VIC. DOGGY DRIVE My friend is a vet and, as the receptionist was ill, I was helping out. A small boy arrived with his dog and I asked what the trouble was before I took them into the vet. The young lad said, “I am having my dog put in neutral.” R. JACK, ARMADALE, VIC. HAPPY MONDAYS What an amazing magazine you have. Every week, there’s something in it for everyone, from start…

WHAT’S YOUR PARTNER’S SECRET DOMESTIC SKILL? Courtney: Stephen is very good at making the bed – much better than I am. Stephen: Actually, I don’t think any of them are a secret, because Courtney does such a lot! WHICH ACTOR WOULD PLAY YOUR PARTNER IN A MOVIE ABOUT THEIR LIFE? Stephen: Penelope Cruz. Courtney: I’d have to say Vin Diesel. WHICH REALITY TV SHOW WOULD YOUR PARTNER BE SURE TO WIN? Courtney: I think he’d go pretty far in Australian Ninja Warrior. Stephen: Survivor.…

It certainly hasn’t been easy for Maggie (Kestie Morassi) in recent times. Despite the fact that Ben (Rohan Nichol) has now moved out of their home and is living at the local Caravan Park, Maggie refuses to give up hope that her husband still believes in their once rock-solid marriage. And it seems as though Maggie’s faith is rewarded when she decides to pay Ben a visit. While she finds his caravan empty, her heart soars when she discovers he has left her a note, saying he will be back soon. Could reconciliation for one of our favourite Summer Bay couples be on the cards? Here’s hoping!…

Brooklyn Beckham has split from his girlfriend of nine months Hana Cross, according to Mail On Sunday columnist Charlotte Griffiths. “They played out every moment on Instagram so it’s no great surprise for me to report Brooklyn Beckham and his model girlfriend have split,” she wrote. “After nine months together, the young lovers have decided to call it a day, leaving the eldest of the Beckham brood free to join his parents on holiday in Italy.” While both used to be active users of Instagram, Brooklyn has not liked any of Hana’s posts since July 15, and they were known for having a “few rows” throughout their relationship.…

MICHAEL CONNER HUMPHREYS: He portrayed the young Forrest Gump in the 1994 film of the same name, but rather than pursuing a career in acting, Michael, now 34, served in the army until 2008. ANNA CHLUMSKY: Well known for playing Vada in My Girl, at the age of 38, Anna, continues to act and has received six Emmy nominations for her role in the popular political satire series Veep. DEVON SAWA: As a teen in the ’90s, Devon appeared in a series of films including Casper, Now and Then and Little Giants. Now 40, the one-time child star will next appear in The Fanatic with John Travolta. MACAULAY CULKIN: The Home Alone star was catapulted to fame at only 10 years old, but he has since continued to pursue artistic…

Ever since their romantic engagement in July, Bindi Irwin and fiancé Chandler Powell have been busy making plans for their perfect big day, set to take place at her family’s Australia Zoo in 2020. But it seems a disaster threatening Bindi’s family legacy could throw a spanner in the works, with the 21-year-old wildlife conservationist forced to put the wedding aside to focus on fires encroaching on their land. “We are fighting a fire that is approaching our Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve that was lit by an arsonist nearby,” Bindi posted on Instagram alongside a photo showing the devastation taking place. But while the emergency could force the young lovers to put plans for their nuptials on hold, there’s no doubt Chandler, 22, will be right beside his bride-to-be on…

The fallout from Jimmy and Nadia Bartel’s split continues as surprising new information comes to light. The break-up of sport’s golden couple came as a complete shock. However, a source claims things were very different behind closed doors. According to the insider, in the beginning Nadia caught Jimmy’s eye for being a sweet “girl next door type” who didn’t buy into all the hype. But the pressure of maintaining her WAG status became the 34-year-old’s driving focus. This was reportedly fuelled by the fact her ex had a notorious “wandering eye”. “She turned into a ‘monster WAG’,” the source claims. “It was her way of warning other girls off and marking her territory.” The source adds that throughout their relationship Nadia became consumed with projecting an image of her and…

It’s a big week for Princess Charlotte (and a nerve-racking one for Prince William and Kate!) as the youngster starts primary school. The 4-year-old will be joining the Reception class at Thomas’s Battersea, which is the same prestigious private school attended by her older brother, Prince George. Charlotte’s first day at the $36,000-a-year school is on Thursday. In addition to learning fundamental first-year skills such as handwriting and drawing, her curriculum will include French, computing, art, music, drama and ballet. Luckily for the princess, she will have her big brother just a couple of classrooms away, with the 6-year-old entering the second grade.…

Mum-of-three Bec Hewitt was spotted sporting an extremely smooth complexion while doing the shopping on August 23, prompting speculation she may have recently undergone a few nips and tucks. And according to cosmetic surgeon Dr Phoebe Jones, who hasn’t treated Bec, it looks as though the TV host may have been dabbling in a few cosmetic injections. “She’s likely had some upper face anti-wrinkle injections. I don’t think she’s had any filler or laser work done,” says Dr Phoebe. Bec’s apparent tweaks come as her Nine Network show, Helloworld, is finishing up. Now, the Aussie star is set to search for a new gig. And after posting a throwback pic of herself with her first agent, Joan Gibson, last month on Instagram, it seems the former Home and Away star…

There are few celebrity couples that can boast a marriage as long as Victoria and David Beckham’s – and if new pictures of the pair enjoying a summer vacation are anything to go by, it’s clear they’re still as in love now as they were when they tied the knot more than 20 years ago! Spotted soaking up the sun aboard celebrity friend Sir Elton John’s yacht on August 25, the fashion designer and her former soccer-star hubby didn’t hold back expressing their affection for one another, sharing several passionate kisses, loving cuddles and loads of laughter together as they relaxed in the South of France. Joining the loved-up pair on the luxury vessel were their four kids, Brooklyn, 20, Romeo, 17, Cruz, 14, and 8-year-old Harper – not to…

MONDAY Arrabbiata Lamb with Pearl Couscous Serves 4, Prep and Cook: 30 mins 250g box pearl couscous 8 x 100g lamb leg steaks 2 tblsps olive oil 1 onion, finely chopped 2 tsps fresh garlic paste ½ tsp dried chilli flakes 400g can cherry tomatoes in tomato juice 1 large chicken stock cube, crumbled 2 tblsps finely chopped fresh parsley Steamed green beans and finely grated parmesan, to serve 1 Cook couscous in a large saucepan of boiling, salted water, for about 8 to 10 minutes, or until tender. Drain. 2 Meanwhile, toss lamb with half the oil in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper. 3 Heat a large, non-stick frying pan over a medium to high heat. Add lamb. Cook, for about 3 to 4 minutes on each…

Miso, a staple ingredient in Japanese cooking, is made by fermenting soy beans to make a thick, flavoursome paste. Ingredients such as rice and barley are added to create different varieties. It ranges in taste with the darker coloured paste being more intense and stronger in flavour. White miso is light coloured with a sweet and mild flavour. It’s usually made with soy beans and rice. Great added to dressings and soups, as well as fish and vegie dishes. Red miso has a saltier and more mature taste, rich in umami flavours. It’s a darker brown to red colour and made with soy beans, barley and other grains. It’s used in hearty soups, meat and chicken marinades. Awase miso is a mix of white and red miso. It’s popular as…

ARIES MAR 21 – APR 20 Supportive gestures will speak the language of love. An open heart will help you appreciate the caring intentions behind others’ practical deeds. Singles, loving actions will speak volumes. A professional undertaking will have a strong PR component and a helpful alliance will grow. Pouring energy into a health or wellness pursuit will encourage an important personal change and new health, diet or fitness goals. LUCKY NUMBERS: 10, 23, 38 TAURUS APR 21 – MAY 21 Fun times, playful exchanges and a romantic setting will add a fresh zing to your love-life. You’ll pour energy into a project or an issue you feel strongly about and a special experience with loved ones. Watch your spending – it will be easy to go overboard when your…

Karina Machado is a journalist, host of the Spirit Sisters podcast and the author of Spirit Sisters, Where Spirits Dwell and Love Never Dies, a non-fiction series exploring the extraordinary experiences of ordinary people. Now, on The Ghost Files podcast each week, Karina will introduce a guest who’ll share their personal encounter with the spirit world. HAUNTED BY LOVE This year marks two decades since Maggie bought her beautiful, historic home in Broome, WA, and yet, the events that unfolded there are stamped on her mind – and heart. One night, in 2003, Maggie was up late with her sick toddler, frantically trying to coax him into taking medicine to lower his raging fever. Finally, he accepted and went to sleep. Exhausted, Maggie took the opportunity to go to the…

After working on the ’90s reno show Changing Rooms, Peter became the host of the hugely popular daytime cooking show Ready Steady Cook in 2006. Known for his camp humour, he was a hit with audiences until his departure five years later. WHY DID EVERYONE LOVE THE SHOW SO MUCH? “The audience were there to have fun – it was playtime,” says Peter, 60. “There was no ‘getting’ anyone, there was no voting out and everyone got a prize.” Viewers loved Peter’s naughty and often bawdy chitchat with contestants and the celebrity chefs who took part on the show. “Every day there was something shocking. People would say, ‘You’re very risqué,’ or, ‘Did you intend to do that?’ and I’d say, ‘Thank you very much, but I’m really not that…

Caught completely off-guard when her first true love Ryder (Lukas Radovich) called time on their relationship, Raffy (Olivia Deeble) has been struggling ever since to overcome her heartbreak. While Ryder has repeatedly tried to reach out to his ex-girlfriend, still hoping they can remain friends, an overwrought Raffy has continued to give him the cold shoulder. “Raffy was in this happy love bubble when she was with Ryder. She just wanted to be with him all the time,” says Olivia. “But by the end of their relationship, he was in a completely different mindset to her. “Raffy was still in the honeymoon phase, whereas he had moved on to become much more independent, and the break-up was so hard for her. She loved him so much.” This week, Ryder is…

Pink has plenty of reasons to celebrate this week. The singing superstar is set to ‘raise a glass’ to celebrate her milestone 40th birthday – but also to mark the end of an epic world tour and the start of a much-needed family break. The singer’s recent social media post gave fans a glimpse of what touring has been like. “This was 2½ years of blood, sweat, and many tears,” Pink posted. With her schedule cleared, the mother of Willow, 8 and Jameson, 2, is set to swap the stage for her home. Although her family joined her on tour, husband Carey Hart, 44, recently revealed that it involved a lot of juggling. “Record-setting tour, chart-topping album, amazing mother, and loving wife … can’t wait to celebrate life with you…

Australian model Kristy Hinze is planning to kick off her 40th birthday celebrations with a bang … in New York! According to an insider, VIPs and close friends and family are booking their flights ahead of the extravagant bash, to be held next month. “Jim [Clark, Kristy’s husband] is pulling out all the stops to spoil his wife with a two-day celebration in NYC in mid-October, booking two of the city’s most exclusive venues,” the source tells New Idea. “He has booked out the exclusive Rainbow Room on the 65th floor of the iconic Rockefeller Plaza for the formal dinner and party.” Gold Coast-born and bred, Kristy has been married to American IT billionaire Jim since 2009 – and it looks like the 75-year-old is ready to give his wife…

We’ve loved this duo since they first paired up on screen as Danny and Sandy in Grease – and now, 41 years on, John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John are still the terrific twosome we’ve adored since 1978. While speaking about his co-star and close friend while walking the red carpet for his new flick The Fanatic last week, John was clearly as smitten with ONJ as we are. “She looks incredible,” the 65-year-old gushed to Entertainment Tonight of Olivia, who is currently battling Stage 4 cancer. “She doesn’t look any different than [she did] years ago. “I’m very proud of her. I’m very happy about Olivia.” This is the Australian actress’ third and most aggressive cancer diagnosis to date. But the 70-year-old is determined to maintain the positive attitude for…

Grant Denyer is beloved by TV viewers for his outgoing and bubbly on-screen personality. But in recent weeks the popular presenter has been looking a little worse for wear. In these new photos, the 41-year-old appeared tired as he made his way out of the Network Ten studio building late at night after a long day of filming. It comes off the back of a difficult professional period for Grant, whose morning breakfast show was axed by 2DayFM. He recently took to Instagram to publicly share his feelings, but as he praised Samuel Johnson’s incredible fundraising efforts, Grant appeared to put himself down. “I’ve never seen such a sacrifice and commitment in this silly world of media. This is truly the most breathtaking thing I’ve ever seen. Selfless, dedicated and…

Princess Beatrice and her beau Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi are head over heels in love and have already set the wheels in motion for their upcoming wedding. And, instead of a traditional Windsor ceremony, Duchess Sarah ‘Fergie’ Ferguson has let the cat out of the bag and revealed that the couple are set to wed in a beautiful villa in Italy! New Idea has learnt exclusively that Princess Beatrice is telling friends to expect an invitation to their upcoming destination celebration very soon. “They’ve decided to elope and wed in Italy, sending ‘save the dates’ to close friends and family to let them know the plans and start arranging flights ahead of their big day,” a royal insider reveals. “They’re going all-out to make it the showbiz wedding of the century…

He has earned himself a reputation as the most perfect Bachelor to date, with his model good looks, a squeaky-clean reputation and no bitter exes dishing the dirt. But now, New Idea can exclusively reveal that Matt Agnew is not as flawless as viewers have been led to believe and has gone to great lengths to cover up a shocking past. A source claims the astrophysicist has been hiding a secret girlfriend and the reality star has apparently confessed to friends that he doesn’t want anyone – especially the single ladies fighting for his heart – to know the truth. According to an insider, before appearing on the show Matt fell in love with a Swedish beauty while studying in Europe and has apparently tried to conceal the past relationship…

A day before admitting to the press how difficult her life has been recently, Angelina Jolie appeared to show the strain on a Disneyland outing. Having dropped her eldest son Maddox at his Korean university earlier in the week, Angelina took her four youngest children to celebrate at the happiest place on earth. But there appeared to be tension between the actress and her daughters, Zahara, 14, and Shiloh, 13, as they became embroiled in a heated discussion. The following day Angelina appeared at Disney’s D23 Expo, where she revealed how challenging her life has been in recent times, apparently alluding to her drawn-out and often bitter divorce and custody case with Brad Pitt. She told E! News how “these last few years haven’t been the easiest, and I haven’t…

There’s no denying that Australia’s Got Talent semi-finalist Umit Bali is a happy-go-lucky guy. But life hasn’t always been a barrel of laughs for the comedian. “WHEN I FIRST CAME HERE, ALL THE THINGS THAT WE TREATED AS LUXURIES WERE EVERYWHERE” He was only 13 years of age when he and his parents decided to leave their life in Fiji and come to Australia as illegal immigrants. But Umit had no idea of the culture shock that awaited him Down Under. “When I first came here, all the things that we treated as luxuries were everywhere,” he tells New Idea. “For example, we used to get pizza once or twice a year and it was such a massive event, but when you’re in Australia, you get pizza all the time.…

Cinnamon Almond Sponge with Honey Cream Serves 6-8, Prep and Cook: 35 mins ²/ ³ cup gluten-free plain flour ½ cup almond meal 1 tsp ground cinnamon 4 eggs ¾ cup caster sugar 2 tsps pure icing sugar ½ tsp ground cinnamon FILLING 300ml tub thickened cream 1 tblsp honey 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 Grease two 20cm round cake pans. Line bases and sides with baking paper. 2 Sift flour, almond meal and cinnamon into a large bowl, pressing any clumps of almond meal through sieve. 3 Beat eggs on high speed in a small bowl of an electric mixer for about 5 minutes, or until very thick and creamy. Reduce speed to medium. 4 With motor operating, beat in sugar, 1 tblsp at a time. Increase speed to…

Nutty Oreo Toffee Cheesecake Serves 8-10, Prep and Cook: 1 hour, 30 mins 2 x 137g packets Oreo Original biscuits 75g unsalted butter, melted 135g packet Werther’s Original Chewy Toffees 2 tblsps thickened cream 1 cup pecans, toasted, chopped 75g dark cooking chocolate, melted FILLING 2 x 250g blocks cream cheese, chopped, at room temperature ¾ cup brown sugar, firmly packed 1 tblsp vanilla extract 3 eggs 250g tub sour cream TOPPING 135g packet Werther’s Original Chewy Toffees ¼ cup thickened cream 1 Invert base of a 22cm round springform pan (base measures 21cm). Grease base and side of pan, lining base with baking paper. 2 Process biscuits in a food processor until finely crushed. Add butter. Process until combined. Press evenly over base and up the side of prepared…

Q HOW MUCH SLEEP DOES MY BABY NEED? A newborn baby needs between 12-14 hours sleep in a 24-hour period. But we also need to be mindful that every baby, and family, is quite individual. And of course this doesn’t mean a 12-hour period but a few small sleeps during the day, and a longer chunk at night. Q WHEN WILL MY BABY SLEEP THROUGH THE NIGHT? From a Tresillian point of view, after the first 10-12 weeks, we’d say that it would be a five-to-six-hour period of sleep. But that could be when you first put the baby down to sleep. Q WHEN SHOULD YOU START A SLEEP ROUTINE? We tend these days to say a ‘pattern of care’ rather than a routine, because we know that every baby…

Q This male I knew said he was stepping away from our friendship in person. He felt I was unhappy with the friendship. He says his decision is firm at the moment. Would you let it go? There must have been something about the friendship that was telling him to walk away. JESSICA, VIA EMAIL. How confusing. At least the male friend could have been a little more honest with the reason he has stepped away from the friendship. You must feel let down and worry what you did to cause this breakup. It’s a pity he was so definite about ending the friendship and putting the blame on you, saying you were unhappy with the situation. I certainly would let it go. Who needs a friend that cannot articulate…

LISTENING TO Here’s the truth: Colombian pop star Shakira’s ‘Hips Don’t Lie’ was one of the biggest songs of the year, swivelling its way to the No.1 spot for nine weeks. Justin Timberlake brought ‘SexyBack’ to the charts – who knew it had gone away? Rihanna sent out an ‘SOS’ and The Pussycat Dolls urged listeners to loosen up the group’s ‘Buttons’. Winter chill be damned! WATCHING Fans of Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) couldn’t get enough of the sozzled pirate, with blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest scooping more than $1 billion at the box office. The big news event of the year was the Beaconsfield mine disaster, where an earthquake caused the collapse of the mine in Tasmania on April 25, killing Larry Knight and leaving Brant…

MONDAY Raffy continues to receive the cold shoulder from Ryder, while Irene pens a letter detailing her plans to leave the Bay. And Robbo has never been more determined to find Dylan Carter. TUESDAY Raffy suffers another seizure at school, while a distraught Irene readies herself for a life on the run. WEDNESDAY Irene’s court day is finally here as Tommy arrives to testify. How will Bella react to Tommy’s surprise appearance? THURSDAY Willow finds herself forming a friendship with new doctor Alex, while Dean’s mother Karen asks Mackenzie for a job – unaware that she’s Dean’s sister!…

BOOK MATTERS OF THE HEART BY FIONA PALMER This very Aussie retelling of Pride and Prejudice reimagines Jane Austen’s heroine Lizzy Bennet as one of five sisters working on her family’s WA farm. Enter two potential love interests who have the local gossips fizzing with excitement and Lizzy wondering which one will be her pick. A heartwarming take on a classic and romantic tale. OUT NOW HOME ENTERTAINMENT ALADDIN  Coming between this year’s remakes of Dumbo and The Lion King, the live-action update of 1992’s Aladdin stays fairly true to the animated original without feeling like a tired re-tread. MVP is Will Smith, who does the impossible and makes the role of the genie (voiced in the cartoon by the late Robin Williams) truly his own. AVAILABLE DIGITALLY WEDNESDAY MOVIE…

Spice Girl Mel B has laid into her bandmates in a recent boozy outburst on her Brutally Honest and Fabulous stage show. With a glass of red in her hand, Mel told the crowds that Geri Horner was a “f--king bitch” after she was flown in by helicopter to one of the tours. She also said that rehearsals were awkward after Mel revealed the pair’s steamy one-night stand which Geri has denied. “It was such a little thing that got blown completely out of proportion,” Mel said. What’s more, plans for a Spice Girls Tour in Oz have reportedly been derailed by Geri, who won’t sign up for the shows.…

Last week Bachelor host Osher Günsberg announced he and wife Audrey Griffen welcomed their first child, a son they have named Wolfgang. Along with a heartfelt image of Osher kissing Audrey as she held onto the adorable newborn, he captioned the post: “He and @Audreygriffen did so well on Friday when he was born perfectly formed with ten fingers and toes, healthy and happy at 3.97kg. Though between the delivery bed and the scale he did do a massive poop - and the doc agreed that if he hadn’t he would have topped 4kg easily.”…

Follow Sam & Coco’s adventures This week Sam Mac’s travel guide MONDAY: COOK ISLANDS TUESDAY: COOK ISLANDS WEDNESDAY: COOK ISLANDS THURSDAY: NEW ZEALAND FRIDAY: NEW ZEALAND…