Indholdsfortegnelse for Issue 38, 2022 i New Idea

I love to cook and when I mentioned this to my colleagues recently they were like deer in headlights. ‘Really?’ Laura asked, while Josh turned and looked at me in disbelief. I’m no MasterChef but I do make a pretty good lasagne. Right now though I’m trying to eat healthy, so our fresh and nutritious bowls of goodness recipes (page 38) are just what I’ll be whipping up this week. But if you’re looking for something sweeter, check out page 46 for desserts the whole family is guaranteed to love. Also, if you’re currently renovating with a partner, our design and building guru Barry Du Bois shares his best tips on how to get through it together (page 55). Happy reading!…

Look out – there’s a Married at First Sight baby coming! Martha Kalifatidis and husband Michael Brunelli, who have been together since meeting on the show in 2019, have announced they’re expecting. Posting a video online, they explained they’d been absent from social media while waiting until just the right moment to let everyone know a baby is on the way. For Martha, it’s been an extremely challenging time as she was diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum, the debilitating form of morning sickness that Kate Middleton suffered from. “I literally didn’t get out of bed for two months, I was so sick,” Martha revealed.…

Royals When Meghan Markle arrived at an event in Manchester last week, everyone knew this was a particularly big moment for the Duchess of Sussex. With Prince Harry looking on, the 41-year-old mum of two mustered her public-speaking skills, honed during her previous professional life as an actress, and waxed lyrical to adoring fans about how happy she was to be back on UK soil. But her dazzling smile hid a different story. Pictures show the couple embroiled in a tense moment as they prepared to depart the One Young World Summit, with one witness telling New Idea exclusively that Meghan appeared to dismiss Harry “with a sort of ‘talk to the hand’ type gesture”. The onlooker adds, “there seemed to have been an argument between Meghan and Harry as…

A Channel Nine insider shares that Ronnie’s return catches all the Blockheads off guard but for Rachel, 36, it’s enough to send her into a tailspin. The on-set spy says the mum of three is reduced to tears when she discovers that Ronnie is – very controversially – helping another couple with their house! It comes after Scotty Cam calls in Ronnie to help one of The Block couples with their painting and Rachel feels it’s unfair, leaving her to make the dramatic declaration that the competition is “rigged”. “I just want to feel like it’s fair … it’s not what I thought it was going to be. “It doesn’t feel fair. And this should be a competition that is fair,” she says. So will Rachel end up…

Hollywood Judge Judy might be turning the big 8-0 next month, but TV’s toughest arbitrator is showing no signs that she’s getting ready to slow down and put away her gavel. New Idea’s exclusive pics of Judith Sheindlin show the 79-year-old exiting her private jet in New York, flashing a grin as she clutches one of her beloved shih tzus – and insiders say she’s got plenty to smile about. “Judy’s fighting fit and feeling good,” says a source. “She’s so glad she decided to continue working on her new show [Judy Justice] after Judge Judy ended last year. Since then, she’s given no more thought to retirement, and she’s feeling great.” It’s no wonder she has a spring in her step, either. Our insider says Judy and her husband,…

Hollywood Victoria Beckham was rightly proud as punch of her close relationship with her eldest son Brooklyn. Ever since he was born in March 1999, they had an unbreakable bond – or so she thought. Posh Spice could never have imagined that 23 years later, just as her beloved boy married the woman of his dreams, that they would be on such terrible terms. Multiple reports claim Brooklyn and his new wife, Nicola Peltz Beckham, aren’t on speaking terms with his parents, breaking his mother’s heart and leaving dad David bereft. At the heart of their sudden falling out is Victoria, 48, and Nicola, 27 – who, say sources, “can’t stand each other”. “In some ways, they’re too similar,” says an insider. “They both know their own mind and they…

Crime Kim Wall had no reason to believe the day she met famed inventor Peter Madsen would be her last on Earth. The 30-year-old journalist from Sweden was prepared for almost anything. She had hostile-environment training, she’d travelled to North Korea, and even risked radiation exposure visiting former nuclear testing sites. But five years ago, her remarkable life was cut short by a monster who killed her “because he could”. It was August 2017 and Kim was preparing for her latest adventure – moving from Copenhagen to Beijing with her boyfriend, Ole Stokke Nielsen. The couple were planning to have a going away party on August 10. Suddenly, Kim’s plans were derailed when her phone pinged with a text. It was a source she hadn’t heard from in months. Danish…

Grilled Salmon with Avocado Salad SERVES 4 PREP & COOK 25 MINS ■ 4 x 150g boneless salmon fillets ■ 1 tblsp black sesame seeds ■ Thinly sliced red chilli, to garnish AVOCADO SALAD ■ 150g baby rocket leaves ■ ½ cup fresh coriander leaves ■ 3 green spring onions, diagonally sliced ■ 1 Lebanese cucumber, halved, deseeded, cut into strips ■ 1 avocado, thinly sliced ■ ½ red capsicum, thinly sliced SESAME MIRIN DRESSING ■ 2 tblsps soy sauce ■ 2 tblsps mirin ■ 1 tsp sesame oil ■ 2 tblsps rice wine vinegar ■ 1 tsp caster sugar ■ ½ cup vegetable oil 1 Heat an oiled, large frying pan over a medium to high heat. Add salmon portions. Cook for about 5 to 6 minutes on each…

Strawberry Milk Dream Pie SERVES 10, PREP & COOK 30 MINS ■ 200g Granita biscuits ■ 100g unsalted butter, melted ■ Extra whipped cream and freeze-dried berries, to serve ■ ½ punnet small strawberries, halved FILLING ■ 1 ½ tblsps powered gelatine ■ 2 ½ cups strawberry-flavoured milk ■ 1 ¼ cups (200g) White Choc Melts ■ 2 ⁄ ³ cup thickened cream, whipped 1 Grease a 24cm-round loose-based flan tin (3.5cm deep). Line base with baking paper. Place on a tray. 2 Process biscuits in a food processor until finely crushed. Add butter. Process until combined. Press evenly over base of prepared tin. Refrigerate while preparing filling. 3 To make filling, sprinkle gelatine over ¼ cup boiling water in a small, heatproof jug. Stand jug in a saucepan of…

Advice Doctor Lurve GOT A RELATIONSHIP Q? DR LURVE HAS ALL THE ANSWERS... There’s a lot of pressure when it comes to sharing your space with someone, especially the bed. It’s one of the most intimate and vulnerable places we experience in our daily lives; so when it comes to couples sharing a bed, or wanting to sleep separately, there is a belief that it’s a reflection of how the relationship is coping in waking life. When we have a disagreement or friction in a relationship, one person may sleep on the couch to stay away from the other. If we start to look at this becoming a more permanent move unrelated to friction, whether it’s due to different sleep schedules, light sleepers, snorers and insomniacs, or…

Advice How do I style a shirt dress? TIP Leave the bottom half of your buttons undone to show more of your pant and create more shape. ADD A BELT! Take this simple dress into the night with an addition of a wide belt and heel like Melissa’s stylish look. Extra points for colour! OVER PANTS For work, add a relaxed pant underneath. This layered look is trending and only needs simple accessories like small earrings and a top handled bag. KEEP IT SIMPLE For your weekend activities, try a more casual approach by leaving it oversized and relaxed. Pair with a sandal and a long cardigan on cooler days for an easy, off-duty look.…

Advice What are the best holiday spots up north? Port Douglas delivers great weather and a relaxing holiday feel, where you can sit around the pool, take a walk on the beach or fill your days with adventures in stunning locations. If you haven’t been before, it’s a breathtaking destination you should undoubtedly add to your bucket list! WHAT’S ALL THE FUSS ABOUT? Situated just a one-hour drive north of Cairns, Port Douglas sits on the doorstep of two World Heritage-listed sites: the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest. Just 20 minutes from town is the spectacular Mossman Gorge, and Cape Tribulation is 40 minutes up the road. Trips to the reef depart from the marina in town, making it easy to head out to this colourful underwater wonder.…

Q Should I book the procedure my specialist has suggested? – JUNE, SYDNEY, NSW. A Trust your instincts on this one and if possible, delay making your final decision until late spring. Saturn’s shift into forward motion should then work in your favour, so give it time. If a new therapy or more left-field approach, like acupuncture, has caught your eye, look into it. It might prove surprisingly effective. Q The last three years have been quite tumultuous. I got divorced, left my job and moved to a different city. As I’m struggling to make ends meet, I’m thinking of joining the Australian Defence Force. My friends think I’m nuts, but I can’t let it go. – SAL, NEWCASTLE, NSW. A With Mars boosting your physicality and Jupiter expanding your…

ENTERTAINMENT If you first fell in love with Nadine Garner as she played the proud and confident Jean on The Doctor Blake Mysteries, her transformation for her latest role might have you doing a double take. In Savage River, Nadine has swapped her locks for a short pixie ’do to portray Lynne, the estranged mother of Miki (Katherine Langford) who has returned home to her small outback town for a fresh start after a spending decade in prison. But when someone is murdered, locals point the finger at Miki and refuse to let her put the past behind her. “I love playing Lynne,” Nadine tells New Idea. “I think there is a beautiful brokenness about her and how flawed she is. She has such a big heart but…

“I JUST LURKED. I WAS WEIRD. I WAS A CREEPER.” Sterling K. Brown recalls being starstruck when meeting Meryl Streep. “I’M ALWAYS ON A DIET, I’VE BEEN ON A DIET SINCE I WAS 10!” Even Danny DeVito feels the pressures of Hollywood. “I MIGHT START CRYING.” Katherine Heigl on sending her three kids back to school. “I HAVE NEVER BEEN BEATEN UP OR SLAPPED AROUND THIS MUCH.” Brad Pitt didn’t have an easy time while filming Bullet Train. “IF YOU’RE ON A PLANE, HE’LL COME UP AND PUT HIS FINGER IN YOUR SOUP.” Mindy Kaling admits her 2-year-old son Spencer hasn’t learnt about boundaries just yet.…

SCENE STEALER Acting like newlyweds, Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness couldn’t keep their hands off each other on the red carpet, with their PDA stealing the show. THUMBS UP! Clearly delighted to have scored an invite, the Duchess of York’s appearance left many scratching their heads. GOING SOLO Normally surrounded by admirers, Brad Pitt looked to be carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders while sailing alone around the city. IT’S A WORRY The title of their flick is Don’t Worry, Darling but it doesn’t appear that things could get any worse for Harry Styles and Olivia Wilde, with signs that their relationship might be over. After the couple arrived separately, they seemed to be deliberately kept apart on the red carpet and in the theatre, with Chris…

Kim Kardashian’s romantic road has been a bumpy one, but she’s now ready to start dating again and this time she knows exactly what she wants. A month after her split with comedian Pete Davidson, 28, the 41-year-old is determined to find her happily-ever-after. “Kim is telling people she needs to meet a more mature guy, someone who really is on her level in terms of success,” an insider revealed. “She tried to deny that cash was important to her when she met Pete because she was so caught up in their chemistry,” the source spilled, “but in the long run it became a turn-off for her.” The mum of four is worth $1.8 billion, which means her next man will need a very large bank account, but her mum…

Hollywood It was a red carpet to remember when rom-com superstars Julia Roberts and George Clooney, along with his wife Amal, attended the premiere of their film Ticket to Paradise in London. While Julia and George might play warring former spouses in the flick, there were no signs of any real-life drama, with the long-time pals beaming for the cameras. Julia drew plenty of attention in her customised Alexander McQueen dress, embellished with beaded graffiti that called out her love for husband Daniel Moder with ‘JR + DM’ as well as the initials of her children Hazel, Phinnaeus and Henry, and meaningful dates such as her wedding year. Amal oozed old-Hollywood glamour in a stunning mint-coloured beaded gown by John Galliano, with her hair cascading in waves, a bold red…

Hollywood They’ve only been wed for two months, but it looks like the honeymoon might well and truly be over for Jennifer Lopez and her husband Ben Affleck. The pair, who tied the knot during a low-key elopement to Las Vegas in July, have been butting heads since their big day over just who should be funding their A-list lifestyle. And so far, it’s been the 53-year-old actress who has been forced to dip into her savings. “Ben adores J.Lo, but she does have a taste for the finer things in life and he has no interest in bankrolling her vanity and opulence,” says a Hollywood insider. Since their original nuptials, the pair have already renewed their vows at a lavish ceremony held in front of family and friends at…

POSH ‘STOLE’ THE WEDDING SONG! Sources say that Brooklyn and Nicola had requested Marc Anthony to serenade them with his song ‘You Sang to Me’ for their first dance – but Victoria intervened, claiming it for her mother-son dance. NICOLA STORMED OUT! Realising Posh had stolen her moment and song, Nicola is said to have stormed out of her own wedding. “Most of the guests could tell something off had happened,” says a source. FIGHT OVER MONEY According to reports, David and Victoria refused to pay for Brooklyn’s US Green Card. Nicola’s parents, Nelson and Claudia, paid for him. SOCIAL MEDIA SNUB VB appeared to recently ignore Nicola, who featured in a Vogue shoot with Brooklyn, on Instagram. “So proud,” she wrote, while tagging only her son.…

Real life Jittering with nerves, Kerry Anne Wells felt her heart stop as host Bob Barker announced the winner of the 1972 Miss Universe title to the crowded ballroom. Just 20 years old, Kerry had travelled from Perth, WA, to Puerto Rico to claim the prize in the world’s most esteemed pageant. As the glittery crown was placed on top of her brown tresses, and with her hands poised around the sceptre, Kerry’s eyes darted around the room. She was in total shock. Speaking to The Spartanburg Herald Journal, Kerry, who worked as a weather forecaster prior to entering the pageant, confessed she went “blank” as she bent to receive her crown. “At first it was a mixture of emotions and then I shook for half an hour,” Kerry, now…

Potatoes Parmigiana SERVES 4 PREP & COOK 50 MINS ■ 1kg large, brushed potatoes, washed, scrubbed ■ 1 tblsp olive oil ■ 2 tsps garlic and herb salt ■ 250g shaved leg ham ■ 400g jar Mutti Rossoro with Genovese Basil PDO Pasta Sauce ■ ½ x 250g punnet cherry tomatoes, halved ■ ¾ cup grated parmesan ■ Baby rocket leaves, to serve 1 Heat a large, non-stick roasting pan in a very hot oven (220C) for 10 minutes. 2 Meanwhile, cut potatoes lengthways into 2cm thick slices. Pat dry with absorbent kitchen paper. Place in a large bowl. Toss with oil and seasoned salt. 3 Remove hot pan from oven. Carefully add potatoes in a single layer. Return to very hot oven. Cook, turning halfway, for about 30 minutes,…

FOODIE TO FOLLOW: @food_bylucy If you’ve ever looked at the pages of a cookbook and wondered how to style food to tingle any tastebud, @food_bylucy is the account for you. Each food pic served up by Sydney-based food stylist Lucy Rosenberg comes with a full recipe and instructional video to take the guess work out of cooking like a pro. From veg meatballs to shakshuka, most of the meals on this account are also meat-free or pescetarian, meaning even the most headstrong carnivore can be swayed. WE TRIED The new Mutti Rossoro with Genovese Basil PDO Pasta Sauce is a star ingredient when added to any pasta dish or recipe where pasta sauce is needed. It creates an amazing depth of flavour with the Genovese basil,…

Advice Barry Du Bois OUR DESIGN GURU HELPS YOU NAVIGATE YOUR NEXT PROJECT I’ve been doing this for a while and I reckon I’ve learnt a few things over the years that will help you complete any home design project and maintain a happy relationship. BEWARE THE SILENT DESIGN PARTNER It’s important that everyone involved is on the same page. Too often I hear someone say, “I’m happy so long as she’s happy,” but in my experience, that’s not always the truth. A few weeks into the project, we’ll discover “I don’t mind” means, “I don’t mind … so long as you don’t choose black tiles or a pink door.” And here is where things come undone; this is why so many relationships are strained during a…

Advice How to display my book collection THE BOOK TABLEAU When you are looking for ways to introduce beauty at home, consider books. They are a form of affordable art that you can display. The right cover at the right scale can stand alone, creating a statement by introducing a striking image, a graphic font or a solid colour block. Books can also be a subtle reminder of what we want to prioritise in our lives – art, design, simple living or travel. Large-format books can be left open on a spread that inspires or creates an atmosphere – this is best suited to coffee tables, sideboards or consoles, where the eye can linger. When displaying more than one book as part of a tablescape –…

WIN! A SHARE IN $2000 COMPACT STARS To win one of six prizes of $50, complete the puzzle and read the coloured squares to reveal a movie featuring Dakota Johnson (10). Write this title on the coupon. SUDOKU Slot the numbers 1 to 9 into every horizontal line, vertical row and 3 x 3 square. Here are three puzzles, graded from easy to hard. SUPER CROSS For a chance to win one of two prizes of $250, simply solve the crossword to reveal the name of an anthology drama series featuring our pictured star (3,5,4) in the coloured squares. Write this on the entry coupon. ACROSS 1 Japanese fish and rice delicacy (5)4 Sorceress (5)6 – breath, nervous anticipation (5)9 Ice-cream flavour, extracted from an orchid pod (7)12 Himalayan monster…

HAPPY PACKER Great to see in New Idea James Packer holidaying with his family looking well. Good to hear he is much happier. Perhaps knowing how important family is has been his strength. SUSAN SEYMOUR, VIA EMAIL. SAY WHAT? After a couple of days babysitting my grandchildren I was a bit tired. Miss Z, 7, was still full of energy. She wanted me to play with her and couldn’t understand that I was weary. “Why are you tired Nanny, I’m not?” My response: “Because you’re 7 and I’m 70.” Miss Z: “Oh Nanny, the only difference between 7 and 70 is the zero.” STELLA SCHROETER, NGUNNAWAL, ACT. Send us a funny story about your children and family, a letter about an interesting piece you’ve read in our mag or…

1 How did Whoopi Goldberg support herself before she hit the big time? A) BricklayerB) ButcherC) BakerD) Candlestick maker 2 Who sings ‘Easy On Me’? A) AdeleB) BeyoncéC) MadonnaD) Rihanna 3 What is the Italian name for bow-tie pasta? A) FarfalleB) LinguiniC) PenneD) Fettuccini 4 Approximately, what percentage of the human body is water? A) 20B) 60C) 90D) 100 5 What is Lady Gaga’s real first name? A) StefaniB) JoanneC) MadonnaD) Katy 6 In which US city would you find O’Hare International Airport? A) New York CityB) Los AngelesC) HoustonD) Chicago 7 What AFL team is commonly known as the Demons? A) FremantleB) SydneyC) MelbourneD) St Kilda 8 How many Grand Slams has Serena Williams won? A) 19B) 23C) 24D) 30 9…

Miley Cyrus and her dad Billy Ray have always had a tight bond, but things have taken a sad turn and there’s no end in sight. Following the ‘Achy Breaky Heart’ singer’s messy divorce from his wife of almost 30 years Tish, the Hannah Montana star is reportedly refusing to talk to him. “Miley didn’t agree with some things that her father has done and the situation has really escalated – they are not on good terms,” a family insider says. “There were words exchanged over what happened towards the end of Billy and Tish’s marriage and since then, but they clearly see things very differently,” the source adds. It’s understood the fight led to a stand-off between the father and daughter duo, with the source explaining “neither…

Insiders say Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman’s same old relationship issue has reared its ugly head again – they simply can’t find enough moments in the day for quality time together. “All their talk of not being apart for more than two weeks at a time seems to have gone out the window in the past couple of years and they’re both struggling with it, but neither seems prepared to compromise,” a source reveals of the couple, who have been married for 16 years. Keith, 54, has been on a relentless tour of the US and Australia, and will stay on the road until December. “Nic wasn’t too happy when she saw how busy he was going to be, but there was little she could say without feeling selfish –…

TV scoop When Karl Stefanovic got the phone call telling him that his “mentor” and friend Tracy Grimshaw was leaving A Current Affair, the $1 million job that everybody wants, he was in complete shock. Tracy’s unexpected decision to quit live on-air last week left some of Australia’s biggest TV and news presenters scrambling to take over. According to insiders, tensions were running high at Nine the following day with closed-door meetings with executives, and negotiations underway as some of the network’s most respected stars started campaigning to fill Tracy’s shoes. “It was like The Hunger Games in there,” quipped one source, adding the list of hopefuls grew by the hour. “It may be just one job among many at Nine, but this decision could have an impact on any…

Some of their latest behaviour has those closest to Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson asking if everything is OK with Hollywood’s nicest guy and his family. The Elvis star was spotted with his wife at the Malibu Chili Cook Off looking less like the leading man we’re used to. The 66-year-old, who was one of the first celebrities diagnosed with COVID-19 in 2020, appeared looking much thinner, prompting concern from onlookers. Rita has also been raising eyebrows after she and Tom were spotted having a fraught family dinner with their eldest son Chet in a local restaurant. The actress was even seen wiping away tears, with an unmoved Chet by her side. “People are worried. Rita and Tom are usually so cool, calm and collected, so to have them both…

Hollywood She made a name for herself playing the awkward-yet-charming Phoebe Buffay on the hit sitcom Friends – but for Lisa Kudrow, it seems life doesn’t imitate art. The 59-year-old actress found herself the victim of a surprise cancelling attempt last week, when reality TV personality Spencer Pratt – best known for his bad-boy turn on The Hills – described her as “hands down, one of the worst humans I’ve ever come into contact with.” The 39-year-old recalled an incident between his wife, Heidi, and Lisa at a 2009 NBC party, saying, “Phoebe (he referred to Lisa as her character’s name) approaches, which was a little shocking since nobody had talked to us at all at the party. Right in front of me, she tells Heidi she needs to get…

Real life His heart racing, Jason Craigie tightens his grip on the rope before him, taking a deep breath he waits in the chutes of Mount Isa’s Buchanan Park. The cheers of the crowd erupt as the horn sounds, signalling the start of his ride, and the brawny bronco beneath him begins to buck and kick. With more than two decades of rodeo experience behind him, Jason jumped at the chance to be part of the first Mount Isa Mines Indigenous Rodeo Championships. Riding alongside around 85 cowboys and cowgirls in the red-dirt arena, Jason was stoked to take out first place in the bareback title. He travelled from his home in Darwin, NT to the Queensland outback for the inaugural event. “For one of the biggest rodeos in Australia…

Red Velvet Choc Eclair Dessert SERVES 12, PREP 30 MINS ■ 3 x 133g packets Oreo Red Velvet cookies ■ ½ cup milk ■ Chocolate curls, to decorate (see Kitchen Hacks, p49) CUSTARD ■ 2 x 100g sachets Vanilla Flavoured Dessert Mix ■ 2½ cups milk ■ 600ml tub thickened cream CHOCOLATE ICING ■ 300g dark chocolate, finely chopped ■ 1 cup thickened cream ■ 1 tblsp honey 1 To make custard, combine all ingredients in large bowl of an electric mixer. Using a whisk attachment, beat on low speed for 30 seconds until combined. Increase speed to high. Beat for a further 1½ to 2 minutes, or until thick and firm peaks form. 2 Spoon half the custard over base of a deep, round serving dish (12-cup capacity). Spread…

Advice Can I make a difference from home? Whether it’s the warmth you get from giving a hug, or the joy cooking for someone brings, we know doing good feels good. It’s for this reason that many people opt to become volunteers, with CEO of Communiteer Victor Lee saying it inspires a more positive outlook on life. “We know that people achieve personal satisfaction and engagement through volunteering and having a greater purpose outside of themselves,” says Victor. Despite this, recent numbers from the Australian Bureau of Statistics note two-thirds of volunteers have ceased lending a hand, as getting out and giving back can be tricky in these strange, pandemic times. Enter our digital alternative: virtual volunteering. WHAT IS VIRTUAL VOLUNTEERING? In short, it’s volunteering but…

Advice How do I deal with dandruff? 1 Switch Your Everyday Products While those white flakes dotted through our hair may seem like a sign of a dry scalp, the cause of dandruff is an overproduction of oil. It’s worth introducing a shampoo to treat the scalp with anti-dandruff efficacy, for smooth hair and shiny results. Head & Shoulders Supreme Scalp Repair & Hair Strength Anti-Dandruff Shampoo, $15.99, chemistwarehouse.com.au. 2 Give Your Scalp a Scrub Often when you have dandruff, your scalp will feel itchy due to sweat and oil. Alleviate itchiness by upping your washing routine with a once-a-week scalp scrub to remove excess oil. Grow Longer Stronger Stimulating Scalp Scrub, $16.99, priceline.com.au. Straand Scalp Brush, $19.95, www.straand.com.au. 3 Moisturise with a Mask For…

Advice Charlie Albone’s summer garden tips There is nothing quite like growing your own produce, especially in summer when the heat really brings an extra rich flavour to your herbs and veggies. Creating the perfect veggie patch isn’t as simple as throwing some seedlings in the garden and hoping for the best – to get the most out of it, you need to follow a few easy steps. Herbs and vegies love sun so try and find a spot that gets at least six hours of direct sunlight a day – the more, the better. If you don’t get this much sun, you’ll be limited as to what you can grow so try leafy vegetables rather than fruit-producing plants and you should still get a bountiful harvest.…

VIRGO AUG 24 – SEP 23 Your proactive approach is impressive, Virgo. A flattering offer may feel like icing on the cake – just don’t overdo things or your juggling act could come a cropper. If expenses have spiralled, September could bring a reappraisal, but on the upside, a money-making idea might warrant a closer look. LUCKY GEMSTONE: OPAL LIBRA SEP 24 – OCT 23 Don’t feel guilty about taking some time out, Libra. With your zone of solitude activated, it’s natural to feel more serious than usual. As Neptune enhances your sensitivity (and intuition!), make an effort to surround yourself with positive people and immerse yourself in music, beauty and nature. LUCKY NUMBERS: 6, 14, 19, 29, 33, 42 SCORPIO OCT 24 – NOV 22 Energy levels dipping? Being…