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Inside Ann Ann’s psychic world

Inside Ann Ann's psychic world

Inside Ann Ann's psychic world

Woman’s Day’s clairvoyant shares the secrets of her incredible gifts with Glen Williams.

Caressing a tombstone with the back of her hand, Ann Ann says she feels at peace. Sitting in the quiet shade of a gothic cemetery not far from her Brisbane home, the Woman’s Day psychic chats away to the dead with an energy most wouldn’t waste on the living.

“Whenever I feel anxious or uptight, I come here,” she says. “I come here to gather my thoughts and I always walk away feeling loved and with my problems solved.”

The day we visit Ann, she hears a mother repeating the words, “Nobody cried for me.”

With a bit of research, Ann discovers the mother was the last to die in her family and had no relatives to grieve her passing. Ann whispers soothing words to put the mother at peace.

The scene seems perfectly normal to Ann, who then spies a young nurse walking among the graves. She sees a man following the nurse, wanting to be near her. He turns to face Ann.

“Oh, that’s Garry Lynch,” she says casually. “The father of Anita Cobby.” When Woman’s Day informs Ann that Anita, who was murdered in Sydney in 1986 aged 26, was a nurse, she gets a shiver.

“That must have been Anita, then. She was beautiful and wearing a nurse’s uniform.”

There is no explanation as to why the ghosts of Anita and her father would be in a Brisbane graveyard – but then, who really can explain the paranormal and the spiritual world?

Ann believes her psychic gift has been with her from birth. “I’ve never tried to restrict it,” she says. “Growing up I’ve used it in most areas of my life. I see it as like having an extra arm.”

This “extra arm” means it isn’t unusual for her to hear voices of the dead or have her sleep interrupted by messages from the other side. “That’s why I keep a notebook by my bed,” she explains. “I jot down what comes to me. Often these messages can be clues to a crime.

“I seem to pick up on children a lot as I was in an orphanage until the age of four-and-a-half.”

Ann’s childhood was tough. When she was finally adopted, her adoptive mother, an alcoholic, would hit her with frying pans.

“That just made me determined to never do that with my children,” says Ann, a loving mum of five and doting grandmother of five. But does she get spooked by the array of spirits that drop by unannounced?

For the full story see this week’s Woman’s Day, on sale March 22, 2010.

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Bob Irwin reveals: I hear Steve from the grave

Bob Irwin reveals: I hear Steve from the grave

Bob Irwin explains to Warren Gibbs how Woman’s Day’s acclaimed psychic Deb Webber connected him with his beloved son.

For the first time since Steve Irwin’s tragic death, his father, Bob, has finally managed to find peace and contentment – after an extraordinary beyond-the-grave encounter with his son.

Although Bob says he has long sensed Steve’s presence around him, he reveals it wasn’t until he received Steve’s message of love and support from the other side that he was convinced his son’s spirit truly lives on – and wants him to be happy.

“He has told me everything is OK, not to be sad and to keep up the fight, to continue looking after the animals,” Bob, 69, tells Woman’s Day.

A former psychic cynic, Bob describes his first true spiritual experience with Steve – who was killed three years ago by a stingray barb while diving in north Queensland – as both “powerful and moving”.

“Steve told me things only he and I knew about,” he reveals. “I still get goose bumps just thinking about it.”

Deb Webber put Bob in touch with Steve during a reading at his remote bush property, Camp Chilli, near Bundaberg in Queensland. Bob had requested the reading with Deb after she was recommended by a friend.

“I told Deb how I had felt Steve around me, how I would often wander into the bush, sit on a rock and open my heart to Steve,” Bob says. “I just desperately wanted to talk to him, and Deb thankfully made that possible. “Steve was so much more than a son to me, he was my best mate.”

For the full story see this week’s Woman’s Day, on sale March 22, 2010.

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Tori’s super party

Tori's super party

It wasn’t just little Liam McDermott who thought his third birthday party was super. His mum and dad got in on the action too!

Most toddlers reckon their parents are superheroes, but in the case of Liam McDermott, he now has photographic proof!

The three-year-old got to show off his Wonder Woman mum Tori Spelling and Caped Crusader dad Dean McDermott to friends at his superhero-themed third birthday party in Hollywood.

Little sister Stella Doreen, 21 months, joined in the fun. She donned her own cape and mask for the colourful celebration, which featured an array of cartoon-themed cakes with enough food colouring to send sugar levels into outer space.

It’s hardly a surprise Tori, 36, would make it an elaborate affair.

Her mum Candy and late father, TV mogul Aaron Spelling, once rented a snow machine for her to enjoy a white Christmas in LA.

For the full story see this week’s Woman’s Day, on sale March 22, 2010.

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Isla and Sacha married at last!

Isla and Sacha married at last!

The actress ties the knot with Borat’s creator, writes Katherine Chatfield.

Isla Fisher has married her long-term fiancé, comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, in a romantic sunset ceremony in Paris, Woman’s Day can reveal.

The notoriously private couple invited just a few close relatives to witness them become husband and wife in a traditional Jewish ceremony last Monday.

“We did it – we’re married!” bubbled an ecstatic Isla, 34, in an email to friends around the world the following day. “It was the absolute best day of my life and in so many beautiful moments I missed you all so much.

I thought of you as everything was happening, but Sacha and I wanted no fuss – just us!”

The Australian actress and Sacha, 38, became engaged in 2004, but despite having a daughter, Olive, now two years old, they postponed their wedding several times. This led to speculation they were reluctant to make their relationship official.

However, friends of the couple say they were simply waiting for the right time to get hitched.

“They were never bothered by the constant public pressure to marry and all along were just considering the venue – Australia or the US,” a friend says. “Paris was the late starter but was the best option at short notice for their families, and it won them over with romance.”

In spite of Sacha’s outrageous alter ego Borat, the UK comedian is said to be very shy in real life. It’s why the pair opted for an intimate celebration instead of a lavish affair in Hollywood with celebrity pals such as Jennifer Aniston and Naomi Watts.

Friends claim the newlyweds’ differences are what makes them a successful couple.

For the full story see this week’s Woman’s Day, on sale March 22, 2010.

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Kate Winslet’s divorce party

Kate Winslet's divorce party

The Titanic star puts on a brave face as she deals with her second divorce. Clare Rigden reports on her cursed love-life.

On holiday in Mexico with her two young children last week, Kate Winslet appeared keen to put her split from second husband Sam Mendes behind her.

Playing hostess to a group of friends during an afternoon of sunbaking and swimming, the British star kept a stiff upper lip, her face fixed in a permanent smile … if only for the sake of her kids, Mia, 9 – who has already been through one divorce – and Joe, 6.

The getaway helped Kate shield her children from the British headlines announcing to the world that, just six years after they tied the knot, Kate and her Oscar-winning director husband, 44, have officially separated.

In a short joint statement released last week through British law firm Shillings, it was revealed their marriage had actually come to an end earlier this year.

“The split is entirely amicable and is by mutual agreement. Both parties are fully committed to the future joint parenting of their children.”

It was a startling end to a relationship whose beginnings controversially coincided with the collapse of her first marriage, to assistant director Jim Threapleton.

As recently as the Oscars, 34-year-old Kate was insisting all was well, laughing off her husband’s red-carpet absence on babysitting” grounds – the same excuse she used at the BAFTAS a few weeks earlier.

But clearly troubles have been afoot for a while, with the pair not seen together publicly since Wimbledon, almost a year ago.

For the full story see this week’s Woman’s Day, on sale March 22, 2010.

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Katie takes charge!

Katie takes charge!

Katie Holmes holds the family together as Tom Cruise struggles to fend off criticism of his controversial church. Katherine Chatfield reports.

While Tom Cruise struggles to prevent the rapidly deteriorating Church of Scientology from collapsing altogether, his wife Katie Holmes has stepped up to take charge of their family.

Tom is believed to hold the revered position of second-in-command of the controversial religion – but after numerous recent allegations of abuse and fraud within the sect, he has been lying low as Scientology chiefs work on a strategy to manage the bad publicity.

With Tom, 47, otherwise occupied, Katie has increasingly asserted her independence and is making it her priority to ensure the rest of their family are well looked after. The 31-year-old actress appears to have blossomed with her new autonomy. Last week she looked happy and relaxed as she took stepdaughter Isabella shopping in West Hollywood.

Isabella, 17, who has taken a backseat to her aspiring movie star brother, Connor, 15, of late, was clearly delighted to spend time with Katie. The two seemed perfectly content browsing the discount racks of fashion stores for bargains, with Isabella emerging with several carrybags.

Katie has also been playing mum to Connor, ferrying him around to his various activities, including dropping him at their local Scientology centre.

The actress has also been spotted popping out for coffee on her own and driving herself around town – both things she’s rarely done since marrying Tom in November 2006.

For the full story see this week’s Woman’s Day, on sale March 22, 2010.

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Three-year-old hero saved her brothers life!

Three-year-old hero saved her brothers life!

When her brother was drowning, tiny Meghan didn’t hesitate to dive in. Warren Gibbs reports.

Three-year-old Meghan Mandikos, who learned to swim before she could even walk, has been hailed as Australia’s youngest “lifesaver” after saving her big brother from drowning in their backyard pool in Brisbane.

The little water babe, weighing just 13kg, bravely put her own life on the line as she dragged Daniel, 6, to safety, even though his weight was pulling her under.

“She’s such a courageous little girl. Daniel can’t swim so he was like a sinking stone,” says proud mum Bridget Cullen-Mandikos, 39, who was sitting only metres from the pool with her husband Michael, also 39.

Meghan was at one end of the pool, older son Nicholas, 9, was at the other end, and Daniel, who is autistic and intellectually impaired, was standing on a large shallow step, Bridget explains.

“Daniel was enjoying himself, like he does every time he plays in the pool, but suddenly he lost his balance and slid into the deep end.

“He is usually very safety conscious and knows not to go off the step. He has this routine where he sticks his head in and out of the water, but on this occasion, I think he put his head in and got confused.

“Meghan yelled out ‘Daniel’, jumped off the side of the pool and swam towards him.

Read the full story in this week’s Woman’s Day, on sale March 15, 2010.

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Walnut, a wonderful a nut

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Getty Images

Did you know a regular intake of walnuts has been associated with many positive health benefits including a reduction in LDL or “bad” cholesterol, reduced risk of coronary heart disease, protection against cancer and even help in the control of high blood pressure. In addition, walnuts may even have anti-inflammatory properties which could help to reduce the effects of arthritis.

When compared to other nuts, walnuts contain significantly higher amounts of a heart healthy fat, omega-3. Omega-3 is an essential fatty acid which can be sourced only from certain foods. This is important as your body cannot make omega-3 and therefore it is essential that these food sources are included in your diet.

Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids, which have been proven to reduce both cholesterol and blood triglyceride levels. In addition to omega-3 fatty acids, walnuts also contain many other beneficial nutrients including magnesium, dietary fibre and vitamin E.

Interestingly, in medieval times it was believed that walnuts had properties that could be used to cure head ailments, increase intellectual ability and have calming effects. This was due to the walnut’s close resemblance to the human brain.

It has been shown that this was not such a strange notion as today the walnut is considered a great brain food. Why not try having a handful before an exam or important meeting?

Eating a small handful of walnuts a day can be enough to reap their health benefits. Walnuts are great to eat as a snack but can also be added to almost any dish. They add texture and flavour to salads, pastas and even desserts such as muffins, fruit crumbles and cakes and are delicious crushed and sprinkled onto ice cream.

For an interesting twist try toasting them and using them to dress up your family’s favourite dish!

Your say: How do you include walnuts into your diet? Have you experienced any of the positive health benefits from consuming walnuts regularly?

This information is provided by the Sanitarium Nutrition Service.

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Six reasons to plant a tree and how to do it

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1. The world is happier with trees:

Seriously, areas with trees have a lower crime rate and illness rates. This isn’t just because wealthy areas have brighter gardens and street trees: when trees and greenery are planted in disaffected areas the graffiti and other more serious crimes decrease as the trees grow bigger. It seems we humans are just happier with trees about us.

2. Save money:

Grow fruit and nut trees to add nuts to your muesli, apples to snack on, oranges for your morning juice, mandarins for the kid’s lunch boxes, avocadoes for dinner and plums for jam and chutney. About 60 percent of our family’s food comes from the trees in our garden; some days it’s much more than that, especially if you count the eggs from garden-fed backyard chooks.

3. Warmth and shade:

A deciduous tree will cool you in summer, then let in sunlight in winter. In humid areas go for tall trees such as palms that will shade the roof but let breezes flow through the garden.

4. Memories:

I measure my life in our garden’s growth: the lime trees I planted the year my son was born, the daphne I planted when my grandmother died, the cuttings from

friends. Kids love to see who grows fastest, them or the tree. The tree always wins in the end, but by then it doesn’t matter.

5. Friendship:

No two trees are the same. You never quite know what your tree will look like in 20 years’ time. And, yes, a tree can be your friend, silent and solid in your garden.

6. Beauty:

Trees are big — that means a lot of loveliness, whether it’s from many-hued autumn leaves or massed flowers of jacarandas or the bright fruit of oranges or red apples or the yellow glow of lemons. I love the dappled bark of smoke bushes and crepe myrtle and spotted gums, one of my favourite trees of all. And this is the perfect time to fall in love with a good tree: the soil is still warm, the days not too hot. This is a time to wander into the garden, and start planting.

How to plant a tree:

1. Dig a hole twice as wide and deep as the pot the tree is in, or the tree’s roots if you are planting a “bare rooted” tree later in winter.

2. Take out any rocks from the soil.

3. Make a slight hill of dirt inside the hole to rest the centre of the tree’s roots on.

4. Stand your tree in the hole, so the soil level is the same as it was in its pot. Add more soil to the mound if it’s not high enough, or push some away if it’s too high.

5. Push the rest of the soil back into the hole around the roots.

6. Stamp hard on the soil to make sure it’s firm around the roots. Roots don’t get fed or watered if there are air pockets.

7. Let the hose dribble in the slight depression around the tree for about an hour. This will mean that the water really trickles down to below root level, and will compact any tiny air holes too.

8. Mulch, making sure the mulch is at least 20cm away from the tree trunk. Mulch too close to the trunk can cause wood rot in young trees.

9. Scatter on some slow-release plant food (follow directions on the packet).

10. Water once a week for a year, and once a month for the next two years.

11. In windy areas, or if your young tree is 2m high or more when you plant it, place three stakes about a metre away from the trunk, then use plant ties to loosely attach the trunk to the stakes. Don’t use one stake in the middle — the tree trunk will grow tall and thin and dependent on the stake and may snap when it’s removed. The three stakes will allow for a bit of “wind rock”, so the roots are firmer and your tree will be hardier and better able to withstand more wind and storms when it’s older.

12. If a branch is in the way, cut it out. It’s best to do this when the branch is only a young shoot so there’s a smaller wound to the tree. If you have to cut large branches, cover with anti-fungal paint. Any garden nursery will have a selection for you to choose from. Just follow instructions.

13. If your tree wilts on hot summer days, don’t worry — it’ll recover. But if it is still wilted at night, it needs water. A tree is an investment in time and money and happiness. And trees are loved, not just by you and your family, but by passers-by as well. Like all old friends, your trees deserve a bit of tending.

Your say: Have you planted trees before? What tree care tips can you share with us? [email protected]

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Young women are three times as sexually active as their grandmothers

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It should be no surprise that young people are more sexually active now than people were 60 years ago, but a new survey shows just how much things have changed.

By the age of 24, young women have on average three times as many sexual partners as their grandmothers did at the same age.

The survey, conducted for Lloyds Pharmacy in the UK, asked 3000 British women of different ages to recall their sexual experiences and showed that by 24, today’s generation of young women had slept with an average of 5.65 men.

In contrast, their mothers’ generation, who were at the same age in the early 1980s, had taken 3.72 lovers, and their grandmothers had slept with just 1.67 partners at the same age.

The pharmacy told the UK’s Daily Telegraph that increasing promiscuity among women could be one of the reasons that incidences of cervical cancer have not fallen among under-25s in recent years, despite falls among older age groups.

Most of the 3000 cases of the disease recorded in the UK each year are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection.

The debate is England is now centred on whether the government should pay to vaccinate girls against the virus.

In Australia, where vaccination is more prevalent, experts are calling for a reduction in invasive and expensive Pap smears for the under-25s, claiming that an increase in HPV vaccination would have a greater effect on cervical cancer rates.

Westmead Hospital director of gynaecological oncology, Dr Gerry Wain, told the ABC last year:

“Screening has no benefit in this age group and there should be a major review of the way we conduct screening in Australia, especially given the impact of the cervical cancer vaccine on HPV prevalence rates.”

He added that Australia’s high HPV vaccination rate would dramatically reduce the incidence and prevalence of the virus in younger groups.

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