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A Mother’s Day to remember

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Damien Leith’s whirlwind success

Two years on from the singer’s Idol audition, his winner’s journey is far from over.

Some would call it luck of the Irish. Others would say it’s in the stars. Either way, Damien Leith is doing something right. Two years on from his first Australian Idol audition, the 32-year-old has defied expectations and become not only a successful recording artist but a published novelist and “one-take wonder” TV host.

It’s hard to imagine the Irish-born singer has all the while been juggling an even bigger role at home with wife Eileen Stapleton and sons Jarvis, 2, and Jagger, 11 months. Family time is becoming even more precious to Damien as he prepares to tour with his new album of ’60s and ’70s tunes, Catch The Wind: Songs Of A Generation. In the lead-up to the tour, Damien invited Woman’s Day into his new home in Sydney’s leafy eastern suburbs to catch up with him and his family.

Being a former Idol, can you have a private life when you go out?

Damien Sometimes if you are tired or I’ve been away for a while it’s easier to stay home, because it is complicated to go out and just have a conversation.

Eileen It’s sometimes when you’ve had a really hard day and people want to take photos it can be hard. I remember when we were moving to this house, we were all helping carry things and the removalists wanted photos then and there. And Damien was covered in sweat, filthy… [Laughs.]

Damien And last year I went to the dentist and got a filling. I’m not good with that stuff, so I came out pale-faced from shock with a swollen lip and everything, and someone took a photo of me. But that’s pretty rare, thankfully. The fans are really great to us.

What’s been the song fans request most?

Damien Crying and Hallelujah. And Nessun Dorma, which I don’t really do, because it doesn’t work well unless you have the big orchestra behind you. I was at the coffee shop down the road and I was about to sit down and the manager came out and asked me to sing for her. She was very serious! [Laughs.]

Do you have any other secret talents that you’d consider using to add another bow to your career?

Damien I love acting. I studied it for years. I like playing the quirky characters, not the serious or romantic lead. I’d be the Jim Carrey character without the comedy, or in John Cusack sort of roles.

Would you write a film?

Damien No, I’m still writing my next book.

Tell us about that.

Damien It’s about a father and son relationship, and it’s set during the troubles in Ireland. That’s the main pressure this year, making sure I make that deadline. Having a book out almost means more to me than writing a song, because it’s easy to make a demo, but to have your words printed and bound … as a young boy in Ireland I could never have imagined that.

Idol is going overseas to audition this year. Do you think Ireland has more talent to give it?

Damien Absolutely! We’ve got loads of Aussie friends there who would jump at it.

Will you miss Mark Holden from Idol?

Damien He said some horrible things to me, but there’s something I liked about him.

Are there plans to go back to Ireland with this album?

Damien There’s potential there, because the acts are both British and American. To do Ireland, we’d love to, but you’d have to have a big patch of time, do loads of gigs there and give it a proper go. That’s where we went wrong with Where We Land. We released it there when we couldn’t do anything with it. It was a bit of a shame, but it did alright. We’re hardly getting around to Australia as it is, so I’m happy here, there’s no plans to go overseas for now.

Pictures: Andrew Jacob. Hair and Make-up: Deanne Dority.

For more of this interview, see this week’s Woman’s Day (on sale May 5).

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Austria’s house of horror

**By Jenny Brown

For 24 years, 42-year-old Elisabeth Fritzl has been shut away in a tiny cellar with three of the seven children she had to the monster who imprisoned her — her own father.**

Elisabeth Fritzl was white-haired, starving, pale and deeply traumatised when she finally, mercifully emerged into the clear light of day.

Drugged, imprisoned and repeatedly raped by her own father — who made her pregnant seven times — she had somehow survived in a secret dungeon for 24 years, together with three of her children.

Until their rescue last week, the youngsters — a 19-year-old girl and boys aged five and 18 — had never been to school, played with friends or stepped outdoors.

Police are now investigating the 42-year-old Austrian’s chilling story of incest and depravity, which sent shockwaves around the world, and have her 73-year-old father Josef in custody.

The outwardly respectable engineer has confessed to seizing, drugging and handcuffing his daughter soon after her 19th birthday, and locking her in a cellar beneath the three-storey family home in small-town Amstetten.

Behind a hidden door, detectives discovered a complex of small, windowless rooms, less than two metres high, where Elisabeth claims she was imprisoned for almost a quarter of a century. There she gave birth to seven children fathered by Josef — who also acted as midwife at each birth — and who it’s claimed has been sexually abusing her since she was 11 years old.

For the full story, see this week’s Woman’s Day (on sale May 5).

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Nicole fights to free her kids from Scientology

Shocking revelations emerge about how the bizarre religion destroyed Tom and Nicole’s marriage.

Seven years after Nicole Kidman’s divorce from Tom Cruise, the Oscar-winning actress is still worried about Scientology and wants to take her adopted children Isabella, 15, and Connor, 13, out of the controversial church, says one of the star’s former friends.

Tom’s demands

In an interview with US magazine Globe, Ian Halperin, a US-based film director and author of Hollywood Undercover, reveals how he befriended Nicole, 40, and claims she made stunning revelations about the church, and its role in her break-up from Tom.

The explosive information comes hot on the heels of shocking charges made by actor and former Scientologist Jason Beghe, who claims some of Hollywood’s biggest stars have been “brainwashed” and turned into “robots” by the religion.

For the full story, see this week’s Woman’s Day (on sale May 5).

Search:

Read more about Nicole Kidman.

Related story:

Katie Holmes sent to Scientology boot camp.

Your say:

Should Nicole be concerned about the influence of Scientology on her kids? Have your say below.

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Carson Kressley stripped bare

Hip American style king Carson Kressley — famous for improving the appearance of men on Queer Eye For The Straight Guy — is focusing on women, at last! Carson, 38, is hosting new series How To Look Good Naked, helping women to feel more attractive. He tells Woman’s Day why we don’t have to be perfect to be beautiful.

Is it fun being a celebrity?

It’s fabulous! When people come and tell me that Look Good Naked or Queer Eye has given them confidence and they feel better about themselves, I feel great. And I also love getting a great table at a restaurant!

Any more movies coming up?

I just did one, Sordid Lives, which Olivia Newton-John is in too, though sadly I didn’t get to meet her. And I’m in another, Duck Farm 13, a coming-of-age movie in which I play a Christian camp leader — and I am very camp!

You’re horse-mad. Do horses keep you sane?

Absolutely. When you’re out mucking the stalls, brushing them, riding them, you forget everything else. Horses were in my life long before this fame stuff and they’ll be there long after it’s gone too.

Is it harder for you to style a woman than a man?

Yes, so much harder. Because a woman has a clue. In Queer Eye, I was just happy if the man was clean. Women all read fashion magazines, and they’re aware about trends. But the flip side of this awareness is they’ve been bombarded with plastic surgery advertisements and pictures of supermodels. So they all want to look like that, and it’s so unrealistic.

So you have to make them accepting?

I tell them, “You don’t have to be perfect to be beautiful.” It takes us three or four days and you have to keep reinforcing this message. It’s like a crash course in learning how to love and accept yourself.

What have you learnt about women since doing the show?

I never realised there were so many women who are unhappy with their bodies. Surveys show four out of five are apparently unhappy — they think they’re too tall, too bony, whatever.

What if the person is overweight and really would look better if they lost a few kilos?

Well we still say to them, “Somebody’s got to love you so it may as well start with you!” Once they start feeling better towards themselves then they want to have a healthier lifestyle.

For more of this interview, see this week’s Woman’s Day (on sale May 5).

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In the mag – May 12, 2008

On sale Monday May 5, 2008

Why Bec Hewitt’s gone into hiding

With millions in the bank, why is Bec living like a celebrity recluse?

In pictures: Bec’s courtside looks

Nicole fights to free her kids from Scientology

Shocking revelations emerge about how the bizarre religion destroyed Tom and Nicole’s marriage.

A Mother’s Day to remember

Mother’s Day is shaping up to be a very important day for Ten’s entertainment reporter Angela Bishop and her Federal MP mum Bronwyn.

Damien Leith’s whirlwind success

Two years on from the singer’s Australian Idol audition, Damien Leith’s winner’s journey is far from over.

Carson Kressley stripped bare

Style king Carson Kressley tells Woman’s Day why we don’t have to be perfect to be beautiful.

True life: Austria’s house of horror

For 24 years, 42-year-old Elisabeth Fritzl has been shut away in a tiny cellar with three of the seven children she had to the monster who imprisoned her — her own father.

  • Princess Bea hits the beach

Princess Beatrice struggled to keep her bikini from being swept away in the surf, as she frolicked on a Caribbean beach with her hunky American boyfriend Dave Clark. As Bea wiggled her toes in front of Dave, onlookers were reminded of her mother Fergie’s infamous toe-sucking incident 16 years ago.

  • Jen finds love at last … with John Mayer!

Jennifer Aniston has a brand new, younger man — hunky singer John Mayer — thanks to the matchmaking efforts of her friend Sheryl Crow.

  • Gwyneth Paltrow’s sexy comeback

  • Neighbours star Natalie Blair on life, love and fame

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Bec Hewitt’s courtside looks

Bec with a fresh-faced girl-next-door look at the 2006 US Open.

A straight-haired Bec wore her hooped earrings while watching Lleyton at The All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon back in 2004.

A summery Bec back home in Sydney at the Medibank Private Open in January 2006.

Pregnant Bec cheered Lleyton on to victory in a match against Taylor Dent at 2005 US Open.

Some of Lleyton’s more gruelling matches can be nail-biting to watch. Here, Bec hopes for the best as Lleyton plays at the 2007 Australian Open where he loses against Fernando Gonzalez of Chile.

Bec copped a bit of flak for the outfit she wore to 2006 Melbourne Cup.

It’s not all blonde curls for the former soapie star, pictured here with darker locks at Wimbledon.

Bec enjoys her ‘do in the grand stand.

This year, Bec gave a bleachy streak a go — pictured here at the Australian Open 2008.

Bec has also given auburn tones a try. Here, she and Lleyton enjoy some time with daughter Mia at Disneyland in Paris after the 2007 French Open.

Bec dabbles in a homegirl look, complete with open-top hat and sunnies.

Bec wears another cap — but this time it seems it’s so she can keep a low profile while shopping in Melbourne.

The match may have ended in the wee-small hours, but Bec maintained style and composure at 2008 Australian Open. At the end of it all, Lleyton’s victory over Marcos Baghdatis might’ve helped put a smile on her face too!

View our photo gallery of poignant moments in Megan Gale’s successful career from school girl to super model.

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The office day-spa

Photos by Getty Images

They've been labelled "bonkers", "eccentric" and "quirky"; and new building plans to link the two adjoining houses of Tim Burton, 53, and Helena Bonham Carter, 45, have only emphasized the pair's stranger-than-fiction living arrangements.

Some days are so hectic and stressful, emergency measures are called for. These three relaxation methods from Pamela Allardice need no special equipment – just five minutes and a floor.

1 Unclench every muscle

This exercise is a powerful stress-buster; it also boosts your cognitive processing abilities, so you think more clearly.

  • Lie on the floor. Close your eyes and focus on your breathing – in through the nose, out through the mouth. Notice how your belly rises and falls. Visualise tension leaving your belly with each out-breath.

  • Shift your attention to your feet: imagine they are so heavy you can’t move them. Take 10 breaths. Move your focus up your body, visualising your legs, back, chest, arms and head all becoming relaxed. Take 10 breaths as you arrive at each body part and visualise the tension flowing away with each out-breath.

  • This exercise can alter your sense of time – you may feel as though half an hour has passed, while it’s only been five minutes. Stand up when you feel ready.

2 Imagine for a moment …

Just as your imagination can rev you into a panicky response when you think of a problem, it can also make you calm when you think of something peaceful. The more you practise this guided meditation, the quicker you will feel relaxed.

Sit on the floor and close your eyes. Visualise your ‘third eye’ – according to yogic tradition, this is the spot in the centre of your forehead that governs imagination. Imagine a beautiful scene – perhaps a waterfall in a lush rainforest. Observe the scene carefully in your mind’s eye and notice the details: the cool air, the splashing water, the soft damp moss. Now, slowly and carefully put yourself in the picture. Walk towards the waterfall and step into the sparkling water. See yourself standing under the waterfall with the water rushing over you, washing away your negativity and tiredness. Be aware of how refreshed you feel. When you are ready, open your eyes and stand up.

3 Curl up like a kitten

This yoga-inspired pose is simple yet deeply comforting. It helps you to collect your scattered energies, leaving you better able to concentrate, as well as more relaxed. Kneel on the floor and shut your eyes. Raise your arms straight upwards and inhale for a count of 5. On a count of 10, exhale and lower your torso till your forehead touches the floor. Stretch your arms out in front, palms downwards. Inhale for a count of 5, then exhale for a count for 10, sweeping your arms down past your sides and turning the palms up. Inhale and clench your hands into fists for a count of 5, then exhale and relax them for a count of 10. Repeat the sequence 10 times. TIP: Your body temperature may drop when you do these exercises, so keep a light wrap handy in your desk drawer.

TIP: Your body temperature may drop when you do these exercises, so keep a light wrap handy in your desk drawer.

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Traffic driving you nuts?

Photos by Getty Images

Anxiety accounts for 45 per cent of all mood disorders, according to a recent report published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, and for the millions of Australians who commute daily by car, rush-hour can be a major source of stress.

With traffic-related anxiety and road rage now formally recognised as a certified medical condition, how can we ensure we stay stress-free amidst the rush-hour chaos?

The Weekly‘s Naturopath, Pamela Allardice, suggests taking the ancient arts of yoga, meditation and aromatherapy to the streets with these 12 simple techniques that will turn the worst commute into a calming interlude.

1. Keep your car reasonably clean and clutter-free. When your surroundings are in order, you feel prepared and organised. 2. Place a flower or a favourite photograph on the dashboard. 3. Stock your car with bottled water and a selection of healthy snacks, e.g. trail mix or a fruit-and-nut bar. 4. Wipe down the dashboard, steering wheel and upholstery regularly with a relaxing essential oil. Ylang ylang has a soft fragrance that helps calm anxiety. 5. Avoid gripping the steering wheel: consciously relax your hands and hold the wheel lightly. Make the most of being stuck at a stop-light by keeping a tube of moisturising cream in the glove-box to give yourself a mini-hand massage. 6. Make the “Ommm” sound when you’re driving. It’s very relaxing and grounding (and no one will be able to see that you’re doing it!) 7. Repeat a positive mantra or affirmation to calm yourself and set your intention for the day, e.g. “I will enjoy today and smile often”, “I will keep things simple and move forward one step at a time” or “I will not stress out about the little things”. 8. Control road rage. Unless you are in danger, don’t honk your horn. Imagine that the driver in front is a close friend. 9. Drive steadily and accelerate or brake smoothly – don’t stamp on the pedals or lane-hop, it only stresses you more. How often have you been overtaken by an impatient driver, only to pull up alongside them at the next lights? Speeding doesn’t get you there any faster. 10. If you’re stuck in traffic, do something to take your mind off the situation, like taking deep breaths, gently rolling your head in circles or smiling at other drivers. See the annoying delay as a chance for some solitude, contemplation and privacy instead. 11. Listen to music that creates the mood you want to experience. Do you want to feel upbeat and energised? Serene or quiet? Whatever music you choose, sing along. Don’t hold back – whoop, whistle, hum or thump a bongo beat on the steering wheel – and watch your tension turn to a smile. 12. Heavy traffic elevates concentrations of pollutants like carbon monoxide and benzene inside your car. Prolonged exposure to these may cause variations in heart rate and blood clotting problems. Although these changes are reversible and unlikely to pose an immediate threat to healthy travellers, they may raise the risk for heart attacks and strokes in people with existing health problems. Play it safe and protect yourself against in-car pollution by minimising driving during peak hour. When you’re on the road, keep your distance from other cars and trucks. If you simply can’t avoid dense, slow traffic, invest in a high-efficiency particle (HEPA) filter, which helps reduce particle concentrations in indoor air.

2. Place a flower or a favourite photograph on the dashboard.

3. Stock your car with bottled water and a selection of healthy snacks, e.g. trail mix or a fruit-and-nut bar.

4. Wipe down the dashboard, steering wheel and upholstery regularly with a relaxing essential oil. Ylang ylang has a soft fragrance that helps calm anxiety.

5. Avoid gripping the steering wheel: consciously relax your hands and hold the wheel lightly. Make the most of being stuck at a stop-light by keeping a tube of moisturising cream in the glove-box to give yourself a mini-hand massage.

6. Make the “Ommm” sound when you’re driving. It’s very relaxing and grounding (and no one will be able to see that you’re doing it!)

7. Repeat a positive mantra or affirmation to calm yourself and set your intention for the day, e.g. “I will enjoy today and smile often”, “I will keep things simple and move forward one step at a time” or “I will not stress out about the little things”.

8. Control road rage. Unless you are in danger, don’t honk your horn. Imagine that the driver in front is a close friend.

9. Drive steadily and accelerate or brake smoothly – don’t stamp on the pedals or lane-hop, it only stresses you more. How often have you been overtaken by an impatient driver, only to pull up alongside them at the next lights? Speeding doesn’t get you there any faster.

10. If you’re stuck in traffic, do something to take your mind off the situation, like taking deep breaths, gently rolling your head in circles or smiling at other drivers. See the annoying delay as a chance for some solitude, contemplation and privacy instead.

11. Listen to music that creates the mood you want to experience. Do you want to feel upbeat and energised? Serene or quiet? Whatever music you choose, sing along. Don’t hold back – whoop, whistle, hum or thump a bongo beat on the steering wheel – and watch your tension turn to a smile.

12. Heavy traffic elevates concentrations of pollutants like carbon monoxide and benzene inside your car. Prolonged exposure to these may cause variations in heart rate and blood clotting problems. Although these changes are reversible and unlikely to pose an immediate threat to healthy travellers, they may raise the risk for heart attacks and strokes in people with existing health problems. Play it safe and protect yourself against in-car pollution by minimising driving during peak hour. When you’re on the road, keep your distance from other cars and trucks. If you simply can’t avoid dense, slow traffic, invest in a high-efficiency particle (HEPA) filter, which helps reduce particle concentrations in indoor air.

YOUR SAY: Do you suffer from road rage or traffic-related stress? What do you do to stay calm? Tell us below…

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I slept with my sister’s man… by accident!

I’ve never felt the need to have someone, a soulmate, a husband, a boyfriend, a lover or even just a close male friend. But when I hit 24 I suddenly felt an urge for company, maybe even love.

I had just packed my suitcase, ready for a trip up the coast when I had a crazy idea. Don’t take anything with you. Have a break from everything, buy new clothes when you get there, act like a different person, take a stash of money out of your bank and forget your identity for the whole two weeks. So I did. I had a fantastic-paying job so I decided to withdraw $15,000 from my savings and spend it on whatever I wanted.

I got to my resort and entered my luxury suite. The first thing I wanted to do was to get completely relaxed so I rang the front desk and booked a massage for that afternoon. Then I realised I needed clothes for the evening — something completely different from what I’d normally wear. I walked to the street of boutiques and bought $1500 worth of clothes.

Then I passed an adult store and glanced inside. Normally a glance would be all I needed to satisfy my curiosity but now I wasn’t me. I was someone new and exciting and a raunchy sex costume was a necessity! I bought red lace panties with a matching silk robe.

I returned to my hotel room just in time for my massage. I opened the door to let in the masseur — but what a masseur! He had a sculpted body, an olive complexion with hazel eyes and a chiselled jaw line.

“Afternoon miss, your full-body massage has arrived.”

I stood in awe of this sexy man. The massage was amazing. And I knew it was not going to be my last one.

I went out that night and found a group of people who wanted to party as much as I did. We had a great time but I couldn’t get the sexy masseuse out of my mind. So I booked another massage and specifically asked for the young man I had yesterday.

I heard a knock on the door, and there he was again. Feeling a sudden rush of embarrassment, my face turned red, matching the lace g-string I had on underneath my robe. But I continued with my plan. He asked me to dress in a towel and make myself comfortable on the massage table. Instead, I dropped my robe and said “I’d actually be more comfortable without a towel.”

His gorgeous jaw dropped and trying to remain professional, he stumbled across words like “company policies” and his job being “in jeopardy”, but I had gone too far now to accept rejection. I moved closer to him, backing him onto the table.

I’m not proud of how I went about it, but the incredible time I had with this man satisfied me for the rest of my holiday. The rush of being impulsive and completely unlike myself was fantastic! Sadly, the holiday had to end and I had to go back to my life and resume my identity once again.

I thought the holiday would never resurface in my mind once I was back to my routine but I was wrong. All I could think about was that masseur and the thought of him made me blush like a lovesick school girl. I decided I’d contact him in the new year, which was only a few weeks away.

Fate, however, stepped in before I had a chance. My family was having a Christmas dinner like they usually do. The difference this time was, my younger sister brought a date along.

To my surprise and deep dismay her quite serious partner happened to be my sexy one-night stand masseur. He walked into the family lounge holding my younger sister’s hand. My heart dropped at the exact time his jaw dropped.

To this day we have kept the secret from my sister. They got married and I could never let my impulsive decisions ruin the obvious love she had found.

Recently, at a family do of his, he and my sister approached me with another man. As they drew nearer, I realised he looked incredibly similar to the masseur I had still been having fantasies about — my sister’s husband.

He turned out to be his older brother who had just returned from a two-year world trip. Let me just say, good, strong hands definitely run in the family.

Picture: Getty Images. Posed by models.

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