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Schapelle Corby looking forward to ‘cleansing swim’

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Schapelle Corby looking forward to 'cleansing swim'

Schapelle Corby

Schapelle Corby is looking forward to ‘the sand between her toes” and a “cleansing swim” at her favourite beach when she returns home to Australia.

Corby’s plea for clemency was approved by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono yesterday and her family is hopeful she could be back home by August.

A letter confirming the clemency was delivered to Corby in Bali’s Kerobokan prison last night.

Related: Schapelle Corby could be home by August

Corby’s mother Rosleigh Rose said her daughter was looking forward to a “cleansing swim” at her favourite beach when she returns to Australia.

“The sand between her toes on the Gold Coast, a lovely swim on the Gold Coast in the water at Tugun,” Mrs Rose told the Gold Coast Bulletin.

“It’s a relief off our shoulders. Every day we wait. I think it hasn’t sunk in yet. I can’t believe it. It feels like I want to bawl. We’ve been up before. We just have to keep calm.

“I just keep thinking… July, August. I will be going over in July and I’m going to be bringing her home.”

The government has cut five years from Corby’s 20-year sentence, which would see her released in 2017.

A previous two-year cut for good behaviour and other remissions could mean she ends up serving just 11 years, being eligible for release in 2015.

Parole could bring her release date forward again, potentially to as early as August this year.

There have been some concerns for Corby’s mental state over the past few years, and she petitioned the Indonesian government for clemency on humanitarian grounds on grounds of mental illness.

Rose said she isn’t too concerned about her daughter as she believes being back at home with her family will cure her.

“She will be staying at our home,” she said. “She will need care. We will have to see how she’s coping.

“We will have to get proper medical advice. As long as she has family that loves her, that are around her and will be patient (she will be all right).”

Corby was arrested in October 2004 at Denpasar’s airport. She was found to have 4.2kg of marijuana in her boogie board bag but denied all knowledge of the drugs.

Related: Schapelle’s descent into madness

She was convicted and sentenced in 2005 and has been in Kerobokan Jail ever since.

She appealed, but the Indonesia Supreme Count confirmed her conviction and sentence.

Your say: Do you think it’s time for Schapelle to come home?

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Not your average household

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Not your average household

Image: Getty, posed by models

Two parents and a couple of kids used to be the norm. But these days, thanks to rocketing property prices, all sorts of people find themselves living together.

Navigate the pros and cons of co-habiting with these tips to help make yours a happy home, whatever your living arrangements.

The Housemates

Students have long lived together as a way to find cheap digs, but more older people now find themselves sharing too, perhaps after divorce.

The main thing to consider is the housemates. They might be friends or strangers, but remember friends are different to live with than drink with. Even if the house/room/neighbourhood is perfect, think hard about the people and whether they’re likely to get on your nerves, and vice versa.

Then make sure everything concerning rent, bills, chores and ground rules is set down in writing.

Parents

Australians are marrying later, so more adults live with their parents for longer. It’s a great way to save, but can have drawbacks.

“Your parents will want to know far more about your personal life than you may like, and you will remain a child in their eyes,” says Barbara Toner, author of What To Do About Everything: A Manual For Domestic Life.

The key is to pay board. “It won’t buy you an equal say, but it will confirm your adult status,” she says. Don’t treat the place like a hotel and don’t forget to talk. They’re your parents, not your landlord.

Grown-up children

Since the early 1970s, changes to income and education policies and the Australian labour market, have led to a reduction in real terms of the income of people aged 15-25*. Meaning many adult children simply can’t afford to move out.

Allowing yours to stay at home could help them save, but don’t let them take advantage. You’re their parents, not their cleaner, or ATM for drunken nights out. Try not to judge those nights out. There’s a big difference between taking an interest in your child’s life and trying to control it.

Elderly Parents

This often happens when the parent is no longer able to care for themselves. When you live with them, you automatically become their carer, whether you or they like it or not.

“This can entail 24-hour alertness and anxiety,” says Barbara. “And most elderly parents will feel torn between relief they are now in loving hands and guilt for the trouble they are causing.”

It’s easy to patronise a parent when roles are reversed. Don’t forget they still deserve respect as your mum or dad. If things get too much, seek professional help. If your elderly parent is in good health, don’t treat them as a free babysitter or cleaner.

The In-Laws

Similar to living with your parents, with the added element of piggy-in-the-middle. “The catch with in-laws is the exquisite tension created by the belief that you each have first claim on the person common to you,” says Barbara.

His mother might find it hard to accept her boy’s got a wife of his own. Her father might think no man is good enough for his princess. Remember you all love the same person, and never make that person choose between you.

Set boundaries before you move in – perhaps chores are shared equally – have regular private time with your partner, and never get involved in their family arguments.

The Lodger

Increasingly people, including couples and even families, are taking in a lodger to make ends meet.

Usual houseshare rules apply for them and you – be tidy, set ground rules and consider how they might get on with you and your children. Draw up a tenancy agreement that includes a notice period in case things don’t work out, and take a deposit to cover damage.

You should also let your home insurer and mortgage lender know you’ve taken a lodger. Try to consider them as more than a dollar sign – they might just become a good friend.

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William reveals sleepless night before wedding

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Prince William reveals sleepless night before wedding

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge after their wedding ceremony.

He’s known as the calm and sensible royal, but Prince William was so excited the night before his wedding that he slept for just 30 minutes.

William, 29, stayed at Clarence House the night before the royal wedding, and says the crowds outside — combined with his own nerves — made for a restless night.

Related: Queen Elizabeth’s bizarre shoe secret

“The crowds were singing and cheering all night long, so the excitement of that, the nervousness of me and everyone singing — I slept for about half an hour,” William said.

William made the admission in a rare interview with British TV presenter Alan Titchmarsh for upcoming documentary Elizabeth: Queen, Wife and Mother.

He also spoke about the difficulties of planning a royal wedding, recalling the day he was given the first official guest list, which included the names of 777 people he had never met.

William said he and Catherine were horrified by the list, but received help from an unexpected ally — the queen.

“There was very much a subdued moment when I was handed a list with 777 names on — not one person I knew or Catherine knew,” William said.

“I went to her and said, ‘Listen, I’ve got this list, not one person I know — what do I do?’ and she went, ‘Get rid of it. Start from your friends and then we’ll add those we need in due course. It’s your day.”‘

William also spoke about his grandmother’s famous corgis, complaining that they bark constantly, and opened up about the “amazing” love between the queen and Prince Philip.

“He’s been just the most incredible support to her,” William said. “It’s a real eye-opener for all of us to look at. As he would put it, he’s just the Duke of Edinburgh. She is the Queen.

In pictures: Prince Philip’s worst gaffes

“He very much wants to be there to support her, so that she doesn’t get that isolation, that loneliness, but also as a sounding-board.

“And also, he makes her laugh, because some of the things he says and does, the way he looks at life, is obviously slightly different than her, so together they’re a great couple.”

Video: Prince William – ‘You don’t mess with the queen’

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Schapelle Corby could be free by August

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Schapelle Corby could be home by August

Schapelle Corby

Schapelle Corby has been granted clemency by the Indonesian government and could be free within three months.

The 34-year-old could be released from Bali’s infamous Kerobokan Jail as early as August, the Daily Telegraph reports.

Schapelle will apparently receive a letter approving the clemency later today.

The clemency will see Schapelle’s sentence slashed by five years. Once previous remissions have been taken into account, this would leave her eligible for release in August.

Schapelle was arrested in October 2004 at Denpasar’s airport. She was found to have 4.2kg of marijuana in her boogie board bag but denied all knowledge of the drugs.

She was convicted and sentenced in 2005 and has been in Kerobokan Jail ever since.

She appealed, but the Indonesia Supreme Count confirmed her conviction and sentence.

Schapelle has repeatedly petitioned for clemency on humanitarian grounds, on grounds of mental illness.

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Boost your super now

Are you worried about not having enough money to retire? Well, if you're a woman, you should be – study suggests. The good news? There are some simple things you can do to build up your nest egg.
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ACCORDING to recent statistics, women are still lagging behind men when it comes to superannuation balances, with the average man having 45 per cent more than average woman.

Why do women have less super?

  • The average income for women is lower than for men

  • Women often take time out of the workforce or work part-time while raising a family.

  • While women are often great at managing the household budget, they are not always financially literate about ‘big picture’ issues

  • Women tend to live longer than men so their super needs to last longer.

  • Women who divorce may lose their nest egg if their partner retains all the super when assets are divided

For all these reasons, many women reach retirement age and suddenly realise they do not have enough super to live comfortably.

How to grow your super:

Start your retirement planning early: Although most young women are just starting their careers and retirement may seem like a long way off, it is never too early to begin planning for the future.

Don’t be a financial dummy: Get your statement out and familiarise yourself with your super. Look at how your money is invested, the performance of your fund and the fees you are paying. Improve your financial literacy by seeking advice from a financial planner or signing up for a financial workshop.

Consolidate multiple funds: On average, Australians have 3.5 super accounts each, wasting as much as $1.1 billion a year in unnecessary fees. Websites such as findmysuper.com.au can help you track your missing super. Once you have found it, consider consolidating it into a single account to keep fees to a minimum.

Consider spouse super contributions: This is a good strategy for women if they are not working or are working part-time while raising a family. Their partner can make contributions to their superannuation and receive an 18 per cent tax offset.

How much is enough? Working out what you will need in retirement is always a difficult task. A general figure of 65 per cent of a person’s pre-retirement income is often used as a guide when looking at how much a person might need in retirement, however expected lifestyle is also an important factor.

Consider salary sacrificing: While your employer must contribute the 9 percent Government Super Guarantee, it is a good idea to top up your superannuation by salary sacrificing. Depending on how much you can afford, try to put another 2-5 percent of your income into your super.

While it is important for women to start building their nest egg early on, it is never too late to get your retirement planning on the right track.

Dianne Charman is an AMP financial planner and mother of two.

Dianne Charman is an Authorised Representative of AMP Financial Planning Pty Ltd, ABN 89 051 208 327, AFS Licence No. 232706. Any advice given is general only and has not taken into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Because of this, before acting on any advice, you should consult a financial planner to consider how appropriate the advice is to your objectives, financial situation and needs.

To find your nearest AMP financial planner visit www.amp.com.au/findaplanner.

Your say: Are you worried about having enough money when you retire? Email us on [email protected]

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Vinnies CEO Sleepout – June 21, 2012

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With almost half of all homeless people being female, the involvement of strong female business leaders in Vinnies CEO Sleepout helps give a voice to this often forgotten face of homelessness. You can nominate your CEO (male or female!) to rise to the challenge, or donate to another participant at ceosleepout.org.au

Vinnies CEO Sleepout 2012 – June 21st 2012

With almost half of all homeless people being female, the involvement of strong female business leaders in Vinnies CEO Sleepout helps give a voice to this often forgotten face of homelessness. You can nominate your CEO (male or female!) to rise to the challenge, or donate to another participant at The CEO Sleepout.

Vinnies CEO Sleepout 2012 – Nikki Beaumont, Beaumont Consulting

Nikki is the founder and Managing Director of Beaumont Consulting and possesses over 22 years experience in the recruitment field. “This will be my 4th Year sleeping out, I wouldn’t be doing again if I didn’t get a lot out of it and really feel that I can make a difference.”

Vinnies CEO Sleepout – more info

Vinnies CEO Sleepout 2012 – Cassandra Kelly, Pottinger

Cassandra is Joint CEO of the independent advisory firm, Pottinger. She is also a Director of the UNSW Foundation Board. She has slept out multiple times and by doing so supported the 84,000 women received support from Vinnies homelessness services in 2009/10.

Vinnies CEO Sleepout – more info

Vinnies CEO Sleepout 2012 – Virginia Mansell, Stephenson Mansell Group

Virginia Mansell is the Owner and Managing Director of the Stephenson Mansell Group. Her involvement in the Vinnies CEO Sleepout is helping to change the fact that the majority of people turned away from specialist homelessness services are women and their children.

Vinnies CEO Sleepout 2012 – Janine Young, the Victorian Public Transport Ombudsman

The Public Transport Ombudsman (PTO) is a not for profit, independent dispute resolution body, providing a free, fair, informal and accessible service for the resolution of complaints about public transport in Victoria. Janine Young is the Public Transport Ombudsman and has held this position for 2 years.

Vinnies CEO Sleepout – more info

Vinnies CEO Sleepout 2012 – Michelle Gallaher, BioMelbourne Network

Michelle Gallaher joined the BioMelbourne Network as CEO in June 2008. She has 18 years experience in the Victorian healthcare, research and biotech sectors. Michelle slept out in Victoria but while female homelessness accounts for 44% of homelessness in Australia, only 20% of Vinnies CEO Sleepout participants are female.

Vinnies CEO Sleepout 2012 – Kathy Alexander, City of Melbourne

Dr Kathy Alexander has been the CEO of the City of Melbourne for over 4 years. She was formerly CEO of Women’s & Children’s Health. Dr Alexander has qualifications in psychology and public health management and more than 20 years experience in leading service organisations.

Vinnies CEO Sleepout – more info

Vinnies CEO Sleepout 2012 – Cathie Reid, APHS Packaging

Cathie is the CEO of APHS Packaging, a national provider of medication compliance aids. Cathie was named Commonwealth Bank Business Owner of the Year at the 2011 Telstra Business Women through her co-ownership of national pharmacy group APHS with her husband, Stuart Giles. Her fundraising target this year is $10,000.

Vinnies CEO Sleepout – more info

Vinnies CEO Sleepout 2012 – Davina Alston, InvoCare

Davina is the General Manager of InvoCare in Queensland, Australia’s largest provider of funeral services. Davina slept out last year raising $3,500 for our homeless services. The experience had quite a personal meaning for her last year because she found herself displaced when her home was flooded.

Vinnies CEO Sleepout – more info

Vinnies CEO Sleepout 2012 – Julie Edwards, Polevault

As the Director of Polevault, a boutique leadership development company, Julie’s passion is coaching young executives to get more out of their people through improved leadership skills. This is Julie’s first year participating in the Vinnies CEO Sleepout. She is committed to raising support and awareness for homeless people.

Vinnies CEO Sleepout 2012 – Catherine Carter, Property Council of Australia

Catherine Carter is ACT Executive Director of the Property Council of Australia. “I’m taking part in the annual Vinnies CEO Sleepout again, to help raise awareness of the issues of homelessness and to support the work of Vinnies. The money raised can make a practical difference to someone’s life.”

Vinnies CEO Sleepout 2012 – Ayesha Razzaq, ActewAGL

As General Manager Retail, Ayesha is responsible for meeting the needs of ActewAGL’s utility customers across the ACT and NSW. ActewAGL supports numerous community groups and Ayesha is particularly passionate about the Vinnies CEO Sleepout. “It’s about raising funds and compassion for the trials that many homeless face,” Ms Razzaq said.

Vinnies CEO Sleepout 2012 – Julie Pedulla, Altitude Real Estate

Julie is from Altitude Real Estate and slept out in Perth last year. She has over 20 years experience with high profile corporations and is known for her high work ethic. Julie lives with her partner and is mother to three sons and knows the Importance of being part of a community and having great support of family and friends.

Vinnies CEO Sleepout – more info

Join Ann Sherry in the CEO Sleepout on June 21st

Ann Sherry is CEO of Carnival Australia. She was awarded a Centenary Medal in 2002 for improving access to banking services to disadvantaged communities and is sleeping out for the first time this year. You can nominate your CEO to rise to the challenge, or donate to another participant at Vinnies CEO Sleepout

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Working mums are happier says study

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Working mums are happier says study

It’s a popular theory that returning to work is the more stressful option for new mums, but a new survey shows it could be staying at home that takes a greater toll.

The survey of 60,000 women in the US by Gallup revealed stay-at-home mothers lag behind employed mothers in terms of their daily positive emotions.

When quizzed about their daily emotions, they were less likely to say they smiled or laughed, learned something interesting, or experienced enjoyment and happiness.

Not surprisingly, those stay-at-home mums who also struggled with a low income fared even worse – experiencing the highest rates of sadness, anger, and depression.

The 2012 Gallup Healthways Well-Being Index analysed adult women between the ages of 18 and 64, and showed that stay-at-home mums were much more likely to report having ever been diagnosed with depression than employed mums.

When asked about their emotions, 41 per cent of stay-at-home mums said they worried while only 34 per cent of employed mums said the same thing.

Half of all stay-at-home mums also said they were more likely to experience stress compared to only 48 per cent of employed mums. In fact, employed mums were about as emotionally well-off as working women with no kids.

But is it really about being a career woman? The authors say no.

“Stay-at-home moms at all income levels are worse off than employed moms in terms of sadness, anger, and depression, though they are the same as other women in most other aspects of emotional wellbeing.”

“Employed moms, however, are doing as well as employed women without children at home — possibly revealing that formal employment, or perhaps the income associated with it, has emotional benefits for mothers.”

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Queen Elizabeth has servants break in her shoes

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No Marilyn moments: Queen's wardrobe secrets revealed

Queen Elizabeth

Queen Elizabeth pays people to wear in her new shoes, her stylist has revealed.

Stewart Parvin, who has been designing dresses for the queen for 11 years, has revealed some of her style secrets in an interview with the UK’s Sunday Times.

While it seems almost Dickensian to force your servants to get blisters so you don’t have to, Parvin insists the queen has a “right” to have someone else break-in her new leather footwear.

“[The shoes] have to be immediately comfortable … she does get someone to wear them,” Parvin said. “The Queen can never say ‘I’m uncomfortable, I can’t walk any more’. She has the right to have someone wear them in.”

In pictures: William, Kate and Harry shine at royal lunch

Elizabeth is famous for her immaculate clothes and personal grooming but Parvin says the secret behind her perfect look is simple: she doesn’t sweat.

“I am somebody who creases all their clothes,” he said. “I’m always hot, the queen is very lucky, she doesn’t crease her clothes.

“The clothes are always impeccable. But it is also that she doesn’t glow. If you are a cold person your clothes don’t crease.”

Parvin also revealed the queen has an extra shoulder pad sewn into the right side of all her outfits to mask a slight imbalance, and that she has a team of people recording every outfit she wears — including details of her hat, gloves, handbag and jewellery — on a spread sheet to avoid embarrassing fashion faux pas.

“The team catalogue where it has been worn, so if she was going to meet President Obama she wouldn’t wear the same dress,” Parvin said.

Parvin says the queen prefers dresses to skirts because she hates having to “adjust herself” and that she favours bright colours because she knows she’s small and wants people to be able to spot her in a crowd.

The queen’s immaculate dress sense was on full show on Friday, when she hosted a lunch for international royals at Windsor Castle.

The monarch — wearing a pale green dress and matching coat — was joined by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the event, held to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee.

Catherine also chose a pastel colour palette, choosing a pale pink £1200 Emilia Wickstead dress with a pleated skirt.

Monaco royals Prince Albert and Princess Charlene also attended the lunch, with Charlene choosing the occasion to show off her new blonde crop.

In pictures: Prince Philip’s worst gaffes

The event was also attended by 24 kings and queens, one emperor, a grand duke, a sultan, eight princesses, an emir and an empress.

It was the largest gathering of crowned heads of state since Elizabeth’s coronation in 1953.

Your say: Do you admire Queen Elizabeth’s sense of style?

Video: Prince William: ‘You don’t mess with the queen’

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Robin Gibb loses cancer battle

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Robin Gibb, member of the Bee Gees

Robin Gibb, one of the three brothers in the Bee Gees has died in London at age 62.

Gibb’s family announced in a statement on Sunday that: “Robin passed away today following his long battle with cancer and intestinal surgery”.

Gibb was admitted into hospital in October last year for abdominal pains. He subsequently had a growth removed from his colon, and revealed he was battling colon and liver cancer.

There was some hope in March where it was announced he was in remission, however in April he contracted pneumonia and fell into a coma.

The Bee Gees hits include: ‘Stayin Alive’, ‘Night Fever’, ‘How Deep is your Love’, and ‘More than a Woman’. They sold more than 200 million records and their success spanned 40 years.

Originally born in the Isle of Man, his musical family moved to Brisbane when he was nine. Together with his two brothers, they started a trio and were famous for their harmonies.

After some success in Australia, they returned to the UK where they signed with new management and their music career took off. They were at the heart of the disco revolution in the 1970s, and the hit movie ‘Saturday Night Fever’ earned them notoriety.

They were awarded nine Grammy Awards and over 2,500 artists have recorded their songs.

Robin’s twin brother Maurice Gibb died suddenly in 2003 of complications related to his intestine. Their elder brother Barry is the only surviving original member of the Bee Gees.

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The problem with fuchsias

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The problem with fuchsias

I think I had been writing gardening columns for about five years before a kindly subeditor pointed out that I couldn’t spell ‘fuchsia’.

But grow them? Yes — any brown-fingered novice gardener can grow fuchsias. But exactly how?

Fuchsia’s spelling comes from being named in honour of a German botanist called Herr Fuchs by a French botanist monk, Charles Plumier (he was honoured when his name was used for frangipani, Plumeria spp).

While I do sometimes wish Herr Fuchs been called Herr Smith, the gardening world owes Charles Plumier a great debt. Because fuchsias aren’t just glorious — they grow and flower in dappled light where not many plants will give stunning blooms and glossy leaves; they grow easily from a cutting stuck in a pot and, if given a little care, will bloom for most of the year.

The best fuchsia to buy is the one your garden centre says will grow best in your area (if they don’t know, buy from another garden centre where the staff know their plants).

Some love hot tropics; others will survive the worst of frost as long as they are next to a warm wall or hung on the veranda.

There are bush fuchsias as well as mini ones that are best for hanging baskets; there are weepers and ones that are narrow and vertical. They are also stunning in large tubs.

Read the label, to see what form your will grow into. Don’t bother too much about the blooms — EVERY fuchsia has stunning flowers, guaranteed to enchant you.

Fuchsias love morning sun, dappled shade in the afternoon, and protection from heavy frost, drying direct sunlight and strong winds.

A tub on the patio or hanging baskets on the veranda are perfect, but I’ve also seen glorious hedges along the shady side of a house, or bushes scattered about a not too glary courtyard garden (add a small fountain for paradise).

Perhaps the loveliest display I ever saw was a row of hanging fuchsias along the veranda of a huge old Queensland house. The line wasn’t straight, but some high, some low, some in between, so the whole outside wall was made up of dangling fuchsias.

Make sure any container is big enough to allow your fuchsia to grow, and that water won’t puddle at the base.

Don’t try to grow them in the pot you bought them in — they it will almost certainly be too small. If you don’t have a spare pot, buy a larger one when you buy your fuchsia. Fuchsias need to be kept moist, but may die quickly and suddenly if they stay waterlogged.

As for feeding — the two most skilled fuchsia growers I know, with plants to make you drool and beg for cuttings, have quite different feeding systems.

One gives their fuchsias dilute soluble plant food every fortnight, except in winter when they weren’t putting out new shoots. The other gives a twice a year feed of slow release plant food, once in mid-spring and the other in late summer. I reckon the choice is up to you.

And if you already know a fuchsia grower in your area, beg for a few cuttings, now. Place them in damp soil in a dappled light and a warm spot and wait till they have quadrupled in size before transplanting them into a bigger pot, probably by midway through next summer.

A neighbour’s fuchsia will be one that grows well in your climate. There is also a particular joy in watching plants grown from cuttings turn into big bushes, a bit like seeing your kids grow up.

But fuchsias don’t need to be driven to Saturday morning sport, nor do they ever complain they don’t want to eat their vegies.

Fuchsias stay tidy, neat (although an annual tidy up of old or unproductive wood at the end of winter is a good idea) and never have grubby faces. Above all (like your kids) they are forever beautiful.

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