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March 9, 2011

Prince William to visit Australia before wedding

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Prince William will visit Australia before his wedding with Kate Middleton in April, exclusively revealed by Channel Nine’s Mornings with Kerri-Anne show.

The prince will fly out in eight days to visit flood devastated areas in Queensland and Victoria as well as earthquake ravaged Christchurch and Greymouth, the scene of the Pike Mine disaster in New Zealand.

The Palace said Ms Middleton would not join Prince William for the trip, from March 17 to 21, because it was an official royal visit.

In pictures: Kate Middleton’s family photos

Prince William visited Australia and New Zealand as part of his first tour as an adult in January last year.

While his visit to New Zealand was an official tour, the Prince said he requested the less formal trip to Australia so he could get to know the country better.

Prince William first came to Australia as a nine-month-old baby in 1983 with his mother Princess Diana and father Prince Charles.

The 28-year-old is due to marry his long-term girlfriend Kate Middleton, 29, on April 29 at Westminster Abbey in London.

The couple began dating in 2003 after they met while studying at the University of St Andrews.

Julia Gillard, her partner, and Australia’s Governor General Quentin Bryce are among 1,900 guests invited to the wedding.

Your say: Are you looking forward to William’s visit? Would you brave the crowds to get a glimpse of him?

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March 9, 2011

How to look after your garden in autumn

March is the perfect time to get trim and terrific – not you (though gardening is a great tummy trimmer and stress buster), but your trees and shrubs.

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Trimming encourages fresh, new growth, as well as keeping things neat. And if you have a small garden – or just want to fit in as many gorgeous plants as possible – try some of the following:

1. Instead of fences, prune and shape apple, pear, plum, cumquat or other fruit trees into espaliers or “living fences”.

2. Prune fruit trees, camellias and native shrubs flat against walls and fences, to minimise the space they take up. In cold climates, planting against sunny north-facing walls will help you grow frost-tender plants.

3. Instead of using shade sails, grow fast-growing ornamental grapes or wisteria along a solid framework to keep summer sunlight away from windows and paving. For real magnificence, try a natural arch of tall trees, bent and pruned to shape.

4. Prune lower tree branches to let more light onto flowers below, but thin out some top branches, or the tree may get top heavy and fall over.

5. Thin out thick trees in humid areas to let the breezes through.

Now is the time to …

1. Mulch! Especially bare soil that may get washed away in thunderstorms.

2. Plant the flowers and vegetables that will give you bounty and beauty all through winter.

3. Spray vines with a cup of milk to nine cups of water to help prevent downy mildew.

4. Trim back roses to get an autumn glory of new flowers.

5. Plant rosemary, winter savoury and oregano to replace summer herbs such as basil.

6. Fill hanging baskets with pansies for blooms all through autumn, winter and spring.

What to plant

Subtropical and tropical areas:

Plants to eat:

Strawberry runners, sweet potatoes, passionfruit vines, parsley and other herbs, beetroot, capsicum, carrot, cauliflowers, celery, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce seedlings (lettuce seeds may not germinate in the heat), paak tsoi, pumpkin, radish, silver beet, sweet corn, tomatoes and watermelon.

Plants for beauty:

Hibiscus, bougainvillea, tropical evergreen fruit trees, ageratum, celosia, cosmos, coleus, Iceland poppy, salvia and sunflowers.

Temperate to cold areas:

Plants to eat:

Strawberry runners, passionfruit and banana passionfruit, rhubarb, blueberries, artichoke, beans, beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, carrots (try the tiny, fat, fast-maturing ones in cold climates), sweet corn (fast-maturing varieties only), leek, lettuce, white onions, salad greens such as corn salad, mizuna, mitsuba, cress, red Italian chicory, silver beet, spring onions, lots of English spinach.

Plants for beauty:

Iris, daffodils and jonquils, alyssum, stocks and flowers to give you colour and cheer through winter – pansies, violas, primulas, Iceland poppies, wallflowers and polyanthus.

Your say: Do you have any tips for autumn gardening? Send them to [email protected]

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March 9, 2011

Herbs: Fresh, dried or frozen?

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Question: I’ve planted a small herb garden, using basil, oregano, marjoram, sage and thyme, and it is now flourishing. Can any of these herbs be frozen or dried for future use?

Answer: Herbs may be used fresh or dried. Many are better fresh, but some, including oregano, marjoram, thyme and bay leaves, flavour food best when dried.

Soft herbs, such as basil, parsley and chervil, can be frozen for up to three months. Wash and dry the herbs well, chop and freeze in small containers or ice-cube trays with a little water.

Once frozen, store the cubes in a resealable bag. Alternatively, you can freeze puréed soft herbs with a little olive oil in small containers.

To dry herbs naturally, hang in small bunches in a well-ventilated spot out of direct sunlight, which may cause the essential oils to evaporate. Drying is complete when the leaves feel brittle. Store in airtight glass jars.

Herbs can also be dried using a microwave oven. Scatter handfuls of cleaned leaves and sprigs evenly on a double layer of kitchen paper. Microwave on HIGH (100 percent) for about 2 minutes 30 seconds. Woody herbs, such as bay leaves or rosemary, may take longer. After drying, store in an airtight container in a cool dark place.

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March 8, 2011

Prince William to visit Australia before royal wedding

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Prince William will visit Australia and New Zealand before his royal wedding on April 29, but his bride-to-be Kate Middleton will not be by his side.

While his visit to New Zealand was an official tour, the prince said he requested a less formal trip to Australia so he could get to know the country better.

Prince William visited Australia and New Zealand as part of his first tour as an adult in January last year.

The 28-year-old prince and his 29-year-old long-term girlfriend are set to marry on April 29 at Westminster Abbey in London.

Prince William first came to Australia as a nine-month-old baby in 1983 with his mother Princess Diana and father Prince Charles.

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March 8, 2011

Tomatoes: The simple superfood

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One of the easiest superfoods to incorporate into your meals is the tomato. This fantastically versatile vegetable (which is, technically speaking, a fruit) has enormous health benefits, whether it’s eaten fresh in a salad or semi-dried as a tasty pizza topping.

Round, red and full of juice

One of the most notable attributes of the tomato is its rich red colour. The red pigment in ripe tomatoes, known as lycopene, is a particularly effective antioxidant. Lycopene may reduce the risk of prostate cancer and other types of cancer, however further research is needed to confirm this.

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Some recent research has suggested that the jelly around the tomato seed may be able to help stop blood from clotting, a process known as thrombosis. Blood clots are often responsible for heart attacks, strokes and blood vessel problems. So this commonly used “vegetable” may also have a role in improving heart health.

Tomatoes are also rich in vitamin C, a potent antioxidant that is needed by the body to produce a number of hormones and proteins, including collagen — a protein present in the skin and connective tissues. Vitamin C is also needed for a healthy immune system and it helps increase the absorption of iron.

Enjoying tomatoes

Try this tasty five-minute pasta sauce. Slice eight tomatoes into quarters and sauté with fresh garlic and onion. Add a couple of handfuls of baby spinach leaves and cook until just wilted. Mix through cooked pasta and serve sprinkled with freshly crumbled low-fat ricotta cheese and pine nuts.

Make your own semi-dried tomatoes. It’s simple! Just cut some Roma (egg-shaped) tomatoes in half and place cut side up on an oven tray. Sprinkle with basil and drizzle with olive oil. Roast in a moderate oven (180°C) for 35 minutes. Enjoy on pasta, in salads and on wraps and sandwiches.

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Tomato tips

Tomatoes are conveniently available all year round.
Select tomatoes that are bright in colour and firm to touch. Avoid bruised or very green tomatoes.
Keeping tomatoes in the fridge will stop the flavour fully developing. It’s best to keep tomatoes at room temperature to allow for a full-bodied flavour and rich red colour.

This information is provided by the Sanitarium Nutrition Service.

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March 8, 2011

The gift of giving

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Each year, many Aussies consider volunteering, but are either too stretched for time or have no idea where to start. But what if we told you there are ways to help others on your bus ride to work? Or that you can make a real difference by cuddling a puppy for 20 minutes a week, whenever you want? It might be time to give volunteering another thought.

Where to start

Before you begin the search, it helps to know exactly what cause you want to be involved in.

“Choose something close to your heart,” says Tess Cosgrove from the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children. “You will find the role more rewarding and therefore be keen to stay for longer.”

Like job hunting, be prepared to attend an interview or provide a CV to demonstrate you are a suitable fit for the role.

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Once you have narrowed it down to one or two fields (for example, health and animal welfare), then you can target your search using the following websites:

GoVolunteer works like a job search engine, with hundreds of vacancies to choose from.
Good Company links skilled professionals with community groups. It also provides assistance to volunteers during projects.
The Centre for Volunteering is a NSW-based referral service that matches volunteers to available projects.

Other avenues

Respond to a state emergency appeal. More than 62,000 volunteers have put their hands up to help with the aftermath of the Queensland floods.
Speak to a friend who already volunteers.
Find out more about your employer’s corporate volunteer policies.

Got a minute?

For those who are busy juggling full-time work and family commitments, why not give “micro-volunteering” a go? Sparked.com, for example, has revolutionised the concept of volunteerism for time-poor professionals. Got 15 minutes to spare and wouldn’t mind translating a Spanish memo into English? Want to use your eye for detail to critique a new charity site?

With micro-volunteering, you can donate as much or as little time you like by responding to bite-sized tasks or “challenges” posted on a virtual noticeboard by not-for-profit organisations. You can also download a free smartphone application called The Extraordinaries and make a difference in the time it takes to wait for your morning latte.

Animal lovers

Many pet shelters depend on volunteer support to keep their operations running. Animal lovers can register their interest as temporary foster owners or even drop by for a 30-minute walk with a rescued dog in their spare time.

Doggie Rescue, for example, advertises a list of jobs on their website that ranges from feeding, grooming to “doggy cuddling”.

Training is provided for most jobs and all volunteers are covered by public liability insurance. You can also contact your local RSPCA to find out how you can help.

Connecting with others

There’s nothing quite as rewarding as knowing you’ve made a difference in someone’s life. Studies have found that volunteers often experience “helper’s high” (a sense of wellbeing similar to the result of exercise or meditation) especially in cases that involve direct contact with other people.

Become a youth mentor through organisations such as Plan-it Youth, reach out to the homeless through Wesley Mission, or help brighten the lives of sick children with Starlight Foundation.

Search for more community services opportunities near you on GoVolunteer.

Other ideas

Take a sabbatical. Volunteer abroad and help rebuild communities in need with organisations such as Projects Abroad or Australian Volunteers international.
Become a surf lifesaver. Find out how to get fit and help others at www.lifesavingonline.com.au.
Outdoor concerts. Volunteer at the on National Folk Festival (April 21 to 25) and enjoy a free season pass.
Help the environment. Get involved in conservation projects through Conservation Volunteers Australia.

Your say: Are you a volunteer? How do you find the time for it? Do you think it is worthwhile?

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March 7, 2011

Lily Allen opens up about losing her baby

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A teary-eyed Lily Allen has spoken for the first time about her second heartbreaking miscarriage in November last year.

“It was a really long battle and I think that kind of thing changes a person,” the 25-year-old ex-pop star who gave up music last year said.

Speaking on the Channel 4 documentary Lily Allen: Riches to Rags, to be aired in the UK, Lily talked about the experience of losing her child six months into her pregnancy with now-fiancé Sam Cooper.

Lily suffered her first miscarriage in 2008 when she was in a relationship with Ed Simons.

During the documentary, which was filmed between March and October last year, she also revealed she struggled with bulimia and body dysmorphia that made her believe she was overweight.

“I used to vomit after meals. It’s not something I’m proud of,” she said.

“But, I tell you what, a lot of people came up to me telling me how great I looked and I’d be on the cover of every magazine.

“I thought I looked good and it was great to be able to try on clothes and feel a million dollars. But I wasn’t happy, I really wasn’t.”

The three-part documentary follows Lily’s career change from singer to clothing entrepreneur as she launches a vintage clothes store, Lucy in Disguise, in London with her older sister, Sarah.

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March 7, 2011

Kate Middleton: Life of a Princess

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Millions of people around the world will watch her wedding, but the Middleton family are giving people just a small glimpse of their daughter Kate’s life before she became a princess.

These images have been released by the Middleton family through Clarence House which has published an official biography of Kate Middleton.

The Biography details Kate’s upbringing revealing she lived in Jordan as a child.

Flick through these images of Kate as a young child up until she met her prince!

Kate Middleton aged three, well before she became a princess.

Kate with sister Pippa and Father Michael in Jerash, Jordan.

Kate Middleton aged five.

Kate at her graduation ceremony at St Andrew’s University on June 23, 2005 in Scotland.

Kate and Prince William on the day of their graduation ceremony.

Kate and Prince William on the day they announced their royal engagement.

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March 7, 2011

Swedish massage: the touch cure

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We all know how good a massage feels but now researchers writing in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine have found just how good it is for you, as well.

A research team from the department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles divided a group of adult test subjects into two groups: members of one were given a 45-minute session of Swedish massage; those in the other group received a 45-minute session of light massage.

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By analysing the subjects’ blood samples at intervals following the two different massage treatments, the researchers found that those study participants having the Swedish massage exhibited substantial changes in their immune response, including greater numbers of lymphocytes (white blood cells that engulf and destroy incoming potentially hazardous viruses and bacteria) and a significantly lower level of the stress hormone cortisol.

Swedish massage is a relaxing yet invigorating style of massage, with particular emphasis on kneading, stretching and friction to relax the muscles, as well as long, soothing strokes towards the heart to boost circulation. To find a qualified Swedish massage therapist near you, visit the Australian Traditional Medicine Society.

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March 7, 2011

Princess Anne asks future son-in-law to consider nose job before marrying Zara

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Princess Anne has asked her future son-in-law, Mike Tindall, to have his nose straightened before he weds her daughter, Zara Phillips, in July.

The English rugby player is due to marry Queen Elizabeth’s eldest granddaughter in Edinburgh, Scotland, on July 30.

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Princess Anne is said to adore Mike but is concerned his nose, which has been broken eight times in his 12-year rugby career, will ruin her daughter’s wedding pictures.

Mike reportedly told producers on the set of British sports quiz show A League of their Own that his future mother-in-law has asked if he would have surgery to correct the feature before the nuptials, the UK’s News of the World reported.

“Princess Anne asked me if I’d have the surgery,” he reportedly said. “She’s a bit worried about how the wedding photos might turn out!”

Mike had corrective surgery on his nose earlier in his career and said he was “unlikely” to go under the knife again.

“The last time I had surgery I had two metal plates inserted up my nose to keep it straight,” Mike said. “The very next game I was playing one of [the opposition] put in a high tackle and, crunch! The metal plates popped out onto the pitch. I’m not keen to do it again.”

Mike, 32, and Zara, 29, have been together since her cousin Prince Harry introduced them at a bar in Sydney in 2002. They announced their engagement in January, two months after her other cousin, Prince William, announced his engagement to Kate Middleton.

William and Kate will marry at Westminster Abbey on April 29, three months before Mike and Zara.

Your say: Do you think Anne overstepped the mark asking Mike to have his nose straightened? Would you consider asking your child’s partner the same thing?

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Kate Middleton aged three, well before she became a princess.

Kate with sister Pippa and Father Michael in Jerash, Jordan.

Kate Middleton aged five.

Kate at her graduation ceremony at St Andrew’s University on June 23, 2005 in Scotland.

Kate and Prince William on the day of their graduation ceremony.

Kate and Prince William on the day they announced their royal engagement.

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Your say: Have you had a Swedish massage before? Did it make you feel less stressed?

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