Table of contents for Issue 50, 2022 in New Idea

We love a wedding. And this week, New Idea was invited into the home of John Farnham’s son, Robert, and his partner Melissa, where they shared exclusively with us their exciting engagement news, and plans for their upcoming nuptials. Robert also gave us an update on his dad’s health and it seems John’s recovery is going well – that’s what we like to hear! Also in this week’s issue, we’re giving our readers the chance to win front-row seats to Woolworths Carols in the Domain, where you’ll receive the full VIP treatment – all the details are on page 12. Happy reading! newidea@aremedia.com.au newidea.com.au @newideamagazine @newideamagazine…

The Cyrus family might be somewhat estranged right now, but if there’s one thing they agree on, it’s that Aussies do it best! Following daughter Miley’s marriage to Liam Hemsworth and romance with singer-turned-swimmer Cody Simpson, matriarch Tish has gone and bagged herself Australian actor Dominic Purcell, 52. Tish, 55, announced the surprise romance by sharing a photo on Instagram which featured herself hugging the Prison Break star by a pool. “Thanks for the cute photo…” Tish wrote along with a heart emoji. In another sign, Tish, who filed for divorce from husband Billy Ray in April, then shared a quote hinting at how happy she is after finding love again. Completing the full set of Down-Under lovers, Billy Ray is engaged to Sydney-born singer Firerose.…

Royals Ever since her daughter Sienna’s birth in September 2021, Princess Beatrice has been keeping a low profile. But last week, the adoring mum was proudly showing off her gorgeous little girl on a day out in London. Sienna made her big public debut rugged up in a pale blue cardigan. The cute 14-month-old joined her mum, who is the granddaughter of the late Queen Elizabeth, and her big half-brother Wolfie, 6, on the outing. The trio met up with Nikki Shale, who is mum to Bea’s property developer husband Edo, for brunch at a snazzy Chelsea cafe. “Onlookers were obsessed with sweet little Sienna,” reveals a source. “People couldn’t get over how much she lookes like her mum. Those York genes are strong!” Sienna has reportedly already taken her…

Hollywood Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have been swept up in yet another drama with their son Chet – this time with a shocking revelation that they sent him to a controversial “wilderness camp” to set him on the straight and narrow. Chet, 32, has regularly spoken out about how he was raised by his famous parents, and claims the couple were “manipulated” by the Utah-located facility because the camp would earn more money with each day its charges remained in its care. Speaking on a podcast in the US last week, Chet alleged that Tom and Rita, both 66, were treated as “whales who had the resources” to keep him at the facility for a “long f--king time”. In a rant posted to his YouTube channel nine months ago,…

Tomato Chorizo Fettuccine SERVES 4 PREP & COOK 30 MINS ■ 300g curly fettuccine ■ 250g tub Original Spreadable Cream Cheese ■ 250g punnet cherry tomatoes ■ 200g chorizo, sliced ■ 200g fire-roasted peppers, drained, roughly chopped ■ 1 tblsp finely chopped pickled jalapenos ■ 120g baby spinach leaves 1 Cook pasta in a stockpot of boiling, salted water until just tender. Drain, reserving ²⁄³ cup cooking liquid. Return pasta to pot. Cover to keep warm. 2 Meanwhile, place cheese in the centre of an ovenproof dish (14-cup capacity). Sprinkle tomatoes, chorizo, roasted peppers and jalapenos around cheese. 3 Cook in a hot oven (200C) for about 20 minutes, or until tomatoes are softened and chorizo is lightly golden. 4 Add reserved cooking liquid to dish. Stir to combine with…

Lauren Newton Advice THE MUM OF SIX ON THE TRIALS & TRIUMPHS OF PARENTING That wonderful time of year is fast approaching and I am so excited to spend another Christmas with a house full of excited children. I have always loved Christmas, the build-up and the day itself, but having little people to share the joy with makes it a magical time. I will always now have a tinge of sadness that my beautiful dad is no longer with us to celebrate the season as it was his favourite time of year. He did everything on a big scale and Christmas was no exception, so I know that he would want us to keep going with our traditions – and as he would say, “Go overboard”…

Q Will I find secure housing on the Gold Coast? I’m keen to move but everyone keeps talking about the tight rental market. I’m a registered nurse so I can pick up work nearly anywhere. TINA, MELBOURNE, VIC. A With Jupiter shifting into your home sector, an autumn relocation looks likely – and chances are high that you’ll love it. A more outdoorsy lifestyle should suit you nicely, so do your research through summer, then go for it. By the end of 2023, you might even dive into the property market! Q My flatmate and I (four of us share a terrace house) enjoy talking and watching TV together, but he’s never suggested meeting outside our home, which seems odd. Can you see things developing and turning romantic? MONICA, NEWTOWN,…

Entertainment THE HOTEL ON THE RIVIERA by Carol Kirkwood Wayward Greek heiress Ariana Theodosis inherits the Hotel du Soleil as part of a mysterious legacy. Captivated by its faded glamour, she hopes it offers her the chance to start again. But as she moves in, a decades-long secret is about to be revealed. OUT NOW DESERT STAR by Michael Connelly A year has passed since LAPD detective Renée Ballard quit the police force due to the endless red tape and misogyny. But when old colleague Harry Bosch gets a second chance to put a murderer behind bars who has eluded him for years, she comes out of retirement to help catch the killer. OUT NOW MY HUSBAND’S KILLER by Laura Marshall Seven friends arrive at a villa on the Amalfi…

“ALL MY BOYFRIENDS HAD TO HAVE A SHIRT MADE BY ME.”Even Helen Mirren’s ex Liam Neeson got one of her fashionable gifts. “DUDE, I’M NOT DEAD!”Britney Spears’ choice words after Millie Bobby Brown said she’d love to play her in a biopic. “WOW! IT CLAIMS YOUR MOUTH … IT HANGS OUT!”Eva Mendes’ reaction to trying Vegemite for the first time. “THE BIGGEST ACTING CHALLENGE WAS TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE THE WATER WAS WARM … WHEN I WAS ACTUALLY FREEZING MY BUTT OFF!”Bond bombshell Halle Berry tells all on her iconic Die Another Day bikini scene. “I CAN SEE ME SMOKING CIGARETTES AND EATING BISCUITS [WITH] HER.”Rapper Cardi B is a big fan of the late Princess Margaret.…

NEWS Jennifer Lopez should still be on a high from her July wedding to Ben Affleck, but rather than display a blissful newlywed glow, the singer has made a shocking confession no-one saw coming. In a new interview, J.Lo, 53, opened up about how the end of her first engagement to Ben in 2004 was to blame for her ensuing failed romances with Casper Smart and Alex Rodriguez, and her doomed marriage to Marc Anthony. “Once we called off that wedding 20 years ago, it was the biggest heartbreak of my life, and I honestly felt like I was going to die,” J.Lo said. “And it sent me on a spiral for the next 18 years where I just couldn’t get it right.” The stars realigned for J.Lo and Ben…

TV scoop It’s already been dubbed TV’s most brutal snub. Leaving Channel Nine for the final time after signing off as host of A Current Affair, Tracy Grimshaw seemed to give her replacement, Allison Langdon, the cold shoulder! Footage from the awkward viral moment appears to show Tracy, 62, rejecting Ally’s offer of a hug as she makes her way through a guard of honour. After embracing Peter Overton, the veteran presenter acknowledges Ally, 43, but then appears to pull back from her before moving on to her Today co-host, Karl Stefanovic. According to a well-placed insider, who was a part of Tracy’s final show celebrations, no-one was more shocked by the ‘snub’ than Ally. “There were plenty of tears and cheers and applause as Tracy moved her way slowly…

Hollywood Kate Winslet’s Rose may have vowed to never let go of Leonardo DiCaprio’s Jack in Titanic, but the actress could be about to chuck her leading man overboard amid new revelations he initially didn’t want a bar of her. Director James Cameron says the 1997 blockbuster almost set sail without Leo due to his “diva” behaviour and refusal to do a screen test with Kate, 47. “He said, ‘Oh, I don’t read.’ I shook his hand and said, ‘Thanks for coming by,’” James, 68, told GQ magazine. Leo, 48, reportedly snapped back and asked: “If I don’t read, I don’t get the part? Just like that?”, to which James responded, “This is a giant movie that is going to take two years of my life … So, I’m not…

Fruit and White Chocolate Rum Balls MAKES 32 PREP & COOK 1 HOUR ■ 465g packet dark fruitcake ■ ¹⁄³ cup dark rum ■ ½ cup desiccated coconut, plus extra to decorate ■ ½ cup chopped roasted hazelnuts ■ 2 tsps ground cinnamon ■ 1 tsp mixed spice ■ 200g block dark chocolate, chopped ■ 1½ x 290g packets White Choc Melts (2½ cups) 1 Crumble cake into a large bowl. Add rum. Stir in coconut, hazelnuts, cinnamon and spice. 2 Place dark chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl. Sit bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Stir until melted. Remove. 3 Add dark chocolate to cake mixture. Stir to combine. Refrigerate, covered, for about 1 hour, or until firm. 4 Roll tablespoons of mixture into balls. Place on large…

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OUR DESIGN GURU HELPS YOU NAVIGATE YOUR NEXT PROJECT At 62 years of age, one thing I have learnt about life is if you don’t make time for wellness, you will be forced to make time for sickness. When it comes to home maintenance, the same can be said. If you don’t schedule time and a budget for home maintenance, you will be faced with stinging inflated costs, inconvenient emergency repairs and enormous stress later on. A good rule for a maintenance budget is to calculate that five to seven per cent of the value of your home will be spent on maintenance over a 10-year period. So, if your home cost $750,000, you can expect and should schedule in between $3750-$5250 per year for maintenance, depending on the age…

COMPACT STARS To win one of six prizes of $50, complete the puzzle and read the coloured squares to reveal a movie featuring Anya Taylor-Joy (3,4). Write this title on the coupon. $300 UP FOR GRABS! PUZZLES $2000 PRIZE TO SHARE! SUPER CROSS For a chance to win one of two prizes of $250, simply solve the crossword to reveal the name of a musical film featuring our pictured star (4,4,6) in the coloured squares. Write this on the entry coupon. $500 UP FOR GRABS! ACROSS 1 Occult sorceress (5)4 Out of place (5)6 – Knightley, actress (5)9 Competitive relationship (7)12 Currency of Vietnam (4)13 Arctic native (5)14 Rash, poorly thought out (3-10)16 Meadow (3)17 Ceramics firing oven (4)18 African scavenger (5)19 Group of workers (5)23…

Festive fun at the park with my grandson Ben. Our local council wraps the trees in Christmas fabric! WANDA ZAKRZEWSKI, MAROUBRA, NSW. This is my 1-year-old pet rabbit named Marshmallow. CHRISTO GALWEY, BERRIMA, NSW. My daughter Lillian and I took a quick selfie before she went on stage to perform in her dancing concert. STEPHANIE HINDSON, CRAIGIEBURN, VIC. The gift of giving As we look forward to our own Christmas with family, I would encourage our New Idea family to think about those who are going through tough times. There are so many charities who distribute gifts: to the homeless, women and children in refuges, the elderly, even those caring for pets that have had to be given up. Imagine the difference we could make if each reader dropped off…

Brooke Shields looked radiant as ever in her Thanksgiving Day social posts, but it wasn’t just spending time with her family that had her beaming. Sources confirm that talks are in progress to reboot Brooke’s hit ’90s TV show, Suddenly Susan, with the star, 57, reprising her lead role of Susan Keane. “She’s looking at some serious cash to do this, but either way Brooke will be all over it,” says a friend. “She’s always been proud of the show and would love to bring it back to modern-day audiences. She’s in early talks right now and wants things to be on her terms.” After spending the last few years relegated to supporting roles, the friend adds the revival series would be Brooke’s “ultimate Christmas gift”.…

Royals The Prince and Princess of Wales were only on American soil for a short window, and between hosting The Earthshot Prize and rubbing shoulders with members of the Kennedy dynasty in Boston, there was little spare time for social activities. But with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex only a few hours’ drive away in New York at their own glittering gala, Kate felt the opportunity was too good to miss. “Regardless of what has happened in the past with Harry and Meghan, Kate desperately wanted to have a visit with their children,” says a source. “Kate loves kids, whether they’re her own, her nieces and nephews, or the children she raises money for through her charities. She meets kids every single day and finds it absurd and a…

Local stars Cherished comedy Mother and Son is returning to screens next year, but it’s been a long time since Garry McDonald, the sitcom’s original son, has been seen out in public. Many close to Garry, who became a household name playing ‘Little Aussie Bleeder’ Norman Gunston and then as the long-suffering Arthur Beare in Mother and Son, say he became more introverted not long after the show ended in 1994 after 10 years. “I haven’t spoken to Garry for a little while,” says Geoffrey Atherden, the show’s creator and writer who is also collaborating on the new reboot. Last reports claimed Garry, 74, was living a very private life on the New South Wales South Coast with his actress wife, Diane Craig. The reclusive star keeps to himself and…

Walking through the Far North Queensland rainforest, Juliana Jaramillo Castrillon soaked up the sounds of calling birds and insects buzzing around her. The 36-year-old had spent the last three days on a nature retreat at Cedar Bay, a remote area in Ngalba Bulal National Park only accessible by boat or a 16-kilometre hiking track. “It was peaceful, a long way from civilisation,” Juliana, who is from Byron Bay, tells New Idea. This remoteness had been the appeal of the adventure, but on September 10, Juliana learnt how alone she truly was. “I’d hiked in with 12 people, but I’d told my sister Lina I’d be home by the weekend, so I left by myself,” Juliana explains. “I had enough water, and pink flags marked the route [home] so I was…

Berry Shortcake Pavlova SERVES 8-10 PREP & COOK 2 HOURS, 10 MINS ■ 6 egg whites, at room temperature ■ 1½ cups caster sugar ■ 250g punnet strawberries, sliced ■ 125g punnet raspberries ■ 2 tblsps icing sugar mixture ■ 300ml tub thickened cream ■ ²⁄³ cup sour cream ■ 2 tsps vanilla extract ■ 100g pure butter shortbread, crumbled 1 Trace a 20cm circle onto a sheet of baking paper. Place trace-side down on a greased, large oven tray. 2 Place egg whites and sugar in large bowl of an electric mixer. Beat on high speed for 10 minutes until thick and glossy. Spoon into middle of circle on prepared tray. Gently spread to edge. 3 Cook in a very slow oven (100C) for about 1 hour and 45…

What can retinol do for my skin? When it comes to anti-ageing ingredients, retinol for skin runs laps around its competition. This powerhouse is a pure derivative of Vitamin A, renowned for its impressive abilities to treat acne, fade dark spots, brighten dull skin and prevent wrinkles with unprecedented efficacy. To paraphrase Samantha Jones in Sex and the City 2, retinol basically tricks your body into thinking it’s younger. However, retinol serum’s reputation tends to precede it, as it’s as widely known for the reactions it tends to trigger as it is for its tremendous results. Lucky for us, we spoke to Dr Joseph Hkeik of All Saint Clinic in Sydney to find out how to seamlessly add retinol to your routine... WHAT IS RETINOL? “My favourite molecule,” laughs Dr…

Advice How to make my backyard bird-friendly A garden is not only beautiful for its plants, but also for the wildlife it attracts. I love sitting outside and watching the birds, insects and lizards foraging around the garden – it gives me a real sense of peace and tranquillity. Attracting wildlife, and in particular, birds, to the garden, requires a few simple things. WATER IS KEY You will first need to think like a bird – what is it birds need to thrive? The number one on the list is water and it has an amazing ability to attract all types and sizes of birds to the garden. Water bowls can be used as well as simple fountains, but I suggest some movement in the water, so it does not…

From December 5-11 Stars Sagittarius NOV 23 – DEC 21 Your confidence is blossoming, Sagie, so shake off any niggling doubts and go for it. Show the world (and your loved ones!) what you’re made of. And don’t discount an unusual business or money-making idea: with Venus and Mercury both shifting into your finance sector, it might just work. Lucky symbol: Blue birds Capricorn DEC 22 – JAN 20 Stand by for solutions! If a work- or health-related matter has been getting you down, Thursday’s full moon could mark a turning point. At the very least, new info could come to light or things might improve almost overnight. A social weekend should lift your spirits, so get out there and celebrate. Lucky colour:…