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The trick to holidaying in “France” in Australia

Tips to holidaying in France without leaving the country.

Travelling in France might seem like a dream to some people in the current economic climate. So, while we wait for an upswing in the economy, here’s how you can find the secrets of French style right here in your own backyard.

Thanks to a new book, Finding France in Australia, Francophiles won’t need a plane ticket to savour the secrets of French style, food, language and culture.

Take two friends who work together, both with a passion for everything French, who live in Australia yet yearn for French food, decor and style…Alison fell in love with France at first sight and is now married to a Frenchman. Sally also fell instantly in love with France and travels there as often as possible.

Together they started collecting a list of their favourite ‘French finds’ in Australia and organised them into six sections: Au Restaurant (French cafés and restaurants); Let’s Cook! (food stores, pâtisseries and specialist cheeses); From Champagne to Cognac (wineries and wine stores); My French Home (décor and design); À la Mode (fashion and cosmetics) and Masterclass (French language, culture and cooking).

They also wanted to share their passion for French culture and history so the book includes interviews with some of Australia’s leading French personalities, and articles about food customs, wine and the secrets of French style.

Enjoy trouvant la France en Australie — Finding France in Australia! Here’s an exclusive online sample of just what you can find in Finding France in Australia.

BISTRO THIERRY

511 Malvern Road

Hawksburn Vic (03) 9824 0888

www.bistrothierry.com

You don”t get much more French than this! Entering Bistro Thierry is like stepping into a buzzing French bistro. Much of the restaurant’s authenticity is thanks to the French staff and the charming décor. The menu combines classic French dishes and innovative modern French cuisine.

CHEZ BOB

22 Beatty Avenue

Armadale Vic (03) 9824 8022

www.chezbob.com.au

This intimate French restaurant, nestled in a peaceful avenue just off Malvern Road, offers a selection of traditional French cuisine served by French staff. The courtyard is a delightful area to dine in on a balmy summer evening while the interior has a warm, welcoming ambiance.

THE BRASSERE BY PHILIPPE MOUCHEL

Crown Riverside, 8 Whiteman Street

Southbank Vic (03) 92927808

www.thebrasserieatcrown.com.au

Philippe’s elegant restaurant with its riverside views is known for contemporary French cuisine and both Australian and French wines. Philippe came to Australia in 1991 to open Paul Bocuse’s restaurant. His new restaurant was awarded a hat in The Age Good Food Guide 2009.

GUILLAUME AT BENNELONG

Sydney Opera House

Bennelong Point Sydney (02) 9241 1999

www.guillaumeatbennelong.com.au

Guillaume’s spectacularly-located restaurant has been famous since it first opened in 2001 for classically French-influenced food, combining expertise with excellent ingredients. Two hats in The Sydney Good Food Guide 2009.

LE TRÈS BON

40 Malbon Street

Bungendore NSW (02) 6238 0662

www.letresbon.com.au

Traditional provincial French cuisine including cassoulet, cheese fondue, pâté and escargots … there’s also a cooking school.

BAGUETTE BISTRO + BAR

150 Racecourse Road

Ascot Qld (07) 3268 6168

A dining institution founded 32 years ago and recently transformed into an avante garde bistro.

DOMINIQUE PORTET WINERY

870 Maroondah Highway

Coldstream Vic (03) 5962 5760

www.dominiqueportet.com

One of the very few French-Australian wineries. Dominique himself is a ninth-generation French winemaker bringing impressive background knowledge to Australian-grown wines. The charming Cellar Door sales building provides ‘Winemakers’ Luncheons’ of simple, delicious food while you taste Dominique’s wines and browse among the French-made and French inspired products.

ULTIMO WINE CENTRE

Shop C21/99 Jones Street

Ultimo NSW (02) 9211 2380

www.ultimowinecentre.com.au

A heaven-in-Sydney for French winelovers — and of course, there are Australian wines as well. Most popular French wines? Côte du Rhône. They also do tastings and you can order online from the website.

LA BERGERIE

141 Maling Road

Canterbury Vic (03) 9830 7915

This distinctive shop founded in 2006 mainly sells French cheeses along with groceries, smallgoods and French wine. The most popular cheese ? Blue vein.

JEFF DE BRUGES

106 King Street

Sydney (02) 9232 3875

www.jeffchocolates.com.au.

Chocolatier Jeff de Bruges may originally be Belgian but the chocolates are made from traditional French recipes. This is the first Australian store.

KOKO LANE

507 Church Street

Richmond Vic (03) 9428 7121

French inspired furniture and homewares — this lovely store stocks a great range of French style furniture and ideas for your house including mirrors, glass, ceramics, photo frames and more.

L’ÉTE PROVENCE

10 Claremont Avenue

Malvern Vic (03) 9500 2493

An elegant little French boutique with a delightful collection of uniquely French table linen and homewares including the famous Les Olivades table linen and decorating pieces.

GAUDION FURNITURE

356 New South Head Road

Double Bay NSW (02) 8117 9009v www.gaudions.com.au

Exclusive quality furniture and accessories to create beautiful, predominantly French environments. The showroom is often described as ‘a little bit of France’.

MADAME B

6 Inkerman Street

St Kilda Vic (03) 9534 3348

www.madameb.net.au

Behind the golden door you’ll find imported French clothes as well as fragrances and gift ideas regularly sourced from France.

RADIO 2RRR SYDNEY — “TRAMPOLINE” FRENCH RADIO PROGRAM

Frequency 88.5FM

www.2rrr.org.au

Trampoline, “pour l’amour de la musique” is a cultural and musical radio program presented live in Sydney every Tuesday night from 9-10.30.

LE FORUM – THE FRENCH BOOKSHOP IN AUSTRALIA

3 Westgate Mall

Fremantle WA (03) 9335 5730

www.leforum.com.au

A treasure trove for Francophones (lovers of the French language) and Francophiles (lovers of France and all things French). Le Forum imports directly from France and has a wide range of French books, films, CDs, etc.

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Evil mum kidnaps her own daughter

Greedy for reward money, Karen Matthews hatched to plot to kidnap her little girl, then made tearful TV appeals for her return.

The chilling story of a British mother who faked her own daughter’s kidnapping to claim the reward money has shocked the world.

Karen Matthews, 33, was arrested nearly a month after her child went missing, when a tip led police to the house of Michael Donovan, where nine-year-old Shannon had been held prisoner for 24 days.

Matthews ? mother of seven children to at least five different fathers ? and her slow-witted accomplice Donovan were found guilty of kidnapping Shannon to grab the 50,000 pounds ($113,000) reward money offered for her return.

Tests revealed Shannon had been drugged with a “powerful hypnotic” drug for at least 20 months before she vanished, as well as during her kidnapping.

Matthews met Donovan, 40, through her then partner Chris Meehan, 22, a convicted child pornography pervert who was duped into believing he was the father of one of her brood. Donovan was Meehan’s uncle.

Karen’s evil actions were inspired in part by the tragic disappearance of three-year-old Madeleine McCann, which resulted in $2.26million being raised to help find her.

It’s now come to light that the McCanns wanted to donate to the search for Shannon, but were warned against it by police suspicious of the mother’s story.

Shannon went missing after leaving home for a swimming field trip on February 19.

Over the next three-and-a-half weeks, Matthews made a number of public pleas for help to find her daughter. “If anyone has got my daughter, my beautiful princess daughter, let her come home,” she sobbed in one TV appeal.

Your say:

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Max Coppa’s numerological guide to celebrity wars

Rihanna is a bright and talented singer with a great future ahead of her. She has no 6, 5 or 4 in her numbers which shows that she has no idea of love just yet. As a life lesson 3 her friends are paramount, and she listens too much to her friends and is easily influenced by them. How she expresses herself gets her in to trouble and this is even more so when you combine it with her temper. I believe Rihanna has pushed Chris to anger (she has double 8s in her numbers) with her jealousy and insecurities. She has not felt love in the home (especially with her father) and she will go back to Chris, however the relationship will fizzle out by early 2010 if not sooner. Rihanna is just not ready yet for a strong relationship and her late twenties look much better for that.

Well what do I say here, allegedly beating up on a girl for any reason is not good, even if he has been pushed. Chris has the potential to be successful in his career (he has a 1-5-9 combination which is linked to an 8 in his grid), however ego, self-centredness and over-indulgence can bring it all undone if he doesn’t watch out. Chris has no 2, 4 or 6 in his numbers which shows that he has no idea about relationships. He needs counselling to help him overcome this (and family looks non-existent). The double 5s in his numbers make him restless and he may have health problems later in life, possibly weight-related problems. The real problem for Chris is that he is entering a 3 cycle this year which highlights legal dealings and court action. He may just rue the day he allegedly hit Rihanna.

Madonna has powerful numbers in her grid. There is no doubt that she is talented, but she is also selfish and what’s hers is hers. The double 8s in her numbers show that she is very sexual and driven and this is why she tires of men after a while and needs a new beau to lighten up her life. She doesn’t like to get older and this is her greatest fear, so young men fill the void. Madonna has money and power, yet she still doesn’t know how to use it wisely. She has no 2s in her birth date so mothering is not one of her areas of expertise. The number 2 also covers partnerships, so look out Guy, you are in for it and I’m afraid your use-by date is up! Madonna’s ego and temper will be hard to deal with here and Guy will need a good lawyer around him. She is in an 8 cycle now so money, power and control are the name of her game.

Guy was never truly in the hunt with Madonna. He is insecure and flighty (he is a day number 10 and a life lesson 7). He is not emotionally strong enough to handle her properly and he lacks the strength in a man that Madonna needs to keep her under control. Sex does wear off after a while and once it went there was nothing left to build on between them. I see Madonna doing this until she’s 80 if she doesn’t get counselling or proper guidance. Guy enters a 3 cycle in September this year, so court action is definitely on the cards. Madonna and Guys combined numbers are a 9 which shows that lies and infidelity were the underlying problem here. I think Madonna needs to look at her new men’s numbers before she signs on the dotted line; US$100 million is a lot of money to pay for bad decisions and poor judgement.

Kate has some deep issues with men and this certainly looks like it started with her father and got progressively worse over the years. A challenging life lesson 4, Kate can be hard on the males in her life and it will take someone of strong character to handle her. We will most likely see the best of Kate when she reaches 40 years of age, a bit like her mum did. The 9s in Kate’s numbers show that she overanalyses and this can work against her. Doubts, insecurity and jealousy get the better of her at times and her numbers show that alcohol and drugs should be avoided at all costs. Even Kate’s dreams can be unsettling. Kate is a good actress, but personal problems plague her and her romances are likely to end in a bun fight. No 6s in her birth date shows that she doesn’t understand her gifts and talents yet.

Chris is a softer and more feeling person, which is shown by the 2s, 6s and 9 in his birth date. He is easily hurt and Kate’s issues wouldn’t help here, in fact Kate would come down too hard on him and he would simply withdraw. This would happen to the point that the relationship just wouldn’t work at all. Kate’s life lesson 4 and Chris’ life lesson 3 is not a good mix and usually means lots of hard work. He is a little old-fashioned in the way that he sees women and perhaps his mother over nurtured him and now he expects that from all women. So you can see this relationship wouldn’t last the distance as there is simply too many differences to blend. My advice is to truly “know thyself” and know what you want otherwise you too can end up like this.

Reece is a fun loving, bright and switched on lady who knows where she is going in life. She is a life lesson 3 which shows that she mixes well, she knows what fun is all about and knows how to flaunt her sex appeal. Her voice and cheekiness wins hearts and she has a great numerology grid that includes a 3-2-1 combination and 3-6-9 combination (see my book Does Your Love Life Add Up? for more information). Reece’s day number 22 shows that her heart rules her head sometimes. Her numbers show that Ryan is simply not in her league. Reece simply outgrew Ryan and once she cuts the tie there is definitely no going back! Reece has just entered a 9 cycle and she is ready to move on with her life.

Ryan is eye candy and very physical, but that’s about it I’m afraid to say. Unfortunately his numbers don’t link very well in his grid. He is a life lesson 4 and has a 1-4-7 combination in his grid which makes him very practical and fixed, which is not always a good mix for a life lesson 3 like Reece. It is simply too restrictive and he is prone to jealousy. Ryan is a serious Virgo and this stops Reece’s creative juices in her tracks. I don’t think Ryan is a bad guy, but he is not her cup of tea for three reasons. He is not passionate enough, isn’t romantic enough and doesn’t communicate very well (no 3s in his numbers). I’m surprised this relationship lasted as long as it did, but in love we always try and give too much, but eventually reality sets in. Ryan will find a more stable relationship next year.

Brad is driven and fixed but he also knows what he wants. He is smart and physical and has the right chemistry to catch a woman’s eye. Brad was always looking for a partner that could meet his expectations. Being a life lesson 4 means he has a strong and physical body to boot; 4’s love their passion and although they make lack finesse and sensitivity, they make up for it in stamina and strength. Brad has a 3-2-1 combination in his grid so he has charisma, people skills and good life skills. Jen lacks this and the sex drive to match him. Angelina has this and as soon as they met, I’m afraid Brad and Jen’s relationship was doomed. Brad has an 8 in his numbers (representing sex, money and drive) and Jen does not. It’s a bit clinical isn’t it but that’s the facts.

Jen is a true Aquarian, but with double 9s and three 1s she dwells on things too much and gets too fixed in her ideas. Jen’s grid shows that she is insecure and this is why her relationships tend to fail. She puts up walls instead of building bridges. Communication in love is difficult for her and she needs a loving and caring partner to bring this out in her. Jen has been hurt in this relationship and some people take longer to heal than others, and this wasn’t helped by all the pressure the media put on Jen. Jen has just entered a 6 cycle which is good for love and we wish her well. There are always winners and losers in love (but really nobody truly wins), but Jen might just have the last laugh yet. Brad will meet his crisis one day and I think it is not too far away either.

Whitney is an interesting character. As a day number 9 and life lesson 9, her head can spin at times. Doubts and fears creep in when she least expects it and are her undoing. Whitney has a strong top line in her grid (3-6-99 combination) and this show that she is bright and gifted, but in love she is not quite so fortunate. Whitney’s numbers show that she had a tough and troubled childhood and home life, and she is in a critical stage in her life right now; she is currently in a 9 cycle. So she needs to get on top of the drugs and alcohol and stabilise her life and future. Judging by her numbers this will be difficult for her and bad relationships don’t help. Whitney enters a positive 1 cycle in 2010, which offers her a new starting point, but whether she rises to it is up to her.

Bobby is the other half of the problem in this relationship. He practises things to excess which is shown by his day number 5 and life lesson 5. He is a restless soul and has hang-ups, jealousy and self-doubts. He puts on a strong front to the public and thinks he can just amble through. Bobby has no 4s in his birth date which shows that he is not grounded enough and doesn’t like hard work. With Whitney’s low self-esteem, Bobby just leads her on a merry dance and is constantly working on her weaknesses. They are both in 9 cycles now so this is definitely the end of the road for them. Apart they might just live longer and happier lives. Their names both add up to a 1 which shows that there is too much action, drive and no reality checks between them. Life can end in the fast lane for them if they don’t watch out.

Liza is a very polished performer, and a 3-6-9 combination in her numerology grid drives this point home. She doesn’t like to be told and needs a man who is a match for her charisma and people skills. When it comes to relationships, she thinks with her heart and not with her head and in the end this talented Piscean is let down. Her issues stem from her mother’s marital exposés and this has haunted her over the years and undermines her. Liza is a life lesson 8 which makes her driven to succeed in life. She can be manipulative but the biggest issue in her relationship with David Gest is that she has a 2, 4 and 6 (partnerships, grounding and love) in her numbers which he does not. Now she has entered an 8 cycle which will be a high point in her and although it is disappointing it is the end of the roach for these two.

David is more interested in his own path and his own ideas. He is a life lesson 7 which can make him quirky, a little flighty at times and living in the shadow of Liza would be a constant problem for him. This relationship had lots of fights and verbal battles, that’s for sure. They are both independent and feisty people and with no 2, 4 or 6 in David’s numbers this relationship was only going to get more difficult with time. David likes the good life (double 5s) and while he could get it with Liza, but the hard facts are that he had to work at it and needed to give and show love. These two again failed to work at the relationship and it ended up being a sideshow. There was simply not enough depth to survive. David is entering a 9 cycle this year which signifies endings.

Paul is a life lesson 4 which makes him down to earth and practical and a relationship should be like that for him. He has a sensitive side which is shown by the 2s and 6s in his numbers. His day number 18 gives him strength and determination and makes him stand out as a leader. He is still crashing through his 7 cycle of upheavals (he entered his 7 cycle in June 2008) and the memories of money loss and divorce are ones that he won’t forget in a hurry. Being a life lesson 4 makes him a pretty tough nut to crack and he is ready to roll with the punches. Fours look for perfection in love and the expectations can be hard to meet. Paul is entering an 8 cycle in June this year so he’ll be making more money, but I’m afraid to say that I don’t think he will ever find a woman as good as Linda!

Heather is a life lesson 1 and this makes her impatient and driven. I don’t think Paul was thinking with his head or heart when he entered a relationship with her. She is self-centred and very high-maintenance. Heather has some deep issues about men and relationships in general. The funny thing is that Paul and Heather’s numerology grids are similar and this is why they were drawn together in the first place. Unfortunately, reality set in all too soon and her unusual ways, habits and mannerisms quickly came to the surface. Heather’s chequered past exposed her more and more and Paul was lost and disappointed. Heather is now in a 6 cycle (love and balance) and she has her eye on someone else already. Companionship is an important part of her life but good luck to the next guy — he’ll need it!

Charlie is a good-time guy, just like the part he plays in his television series Two and a Half Men. He is a life lesson 33 which shows that he is a social butterfly and good times, fun and sex stand out. He is like that little boy who hasn’t yet grown up. The 3-6-9 combination in his numerology grid shows that he is smart and he likes to let people know it. You can’t tell him anything and couple this with a 1-5-9 combination in his grid, makes him a person who doesn’t like to lose. Family issues have led him to present day problems. He is not grounded and lives more in his head than anything. The double 9s show that he overanalyses and this makes him angry. Anger and temper can be his downfall if he doesn’t learn to control it. Charlie is in a 4 cycle right now and it makes him really fixed and hard to deal with.

Denise is a bright and intelligent person, but her life skills are poor. She has no 6, 5 or 4 in the love line of her grid and this makes her naive when it comes to the workings of the heart. The double 7s in Denise’s numbers shows that she is impatient and doesn’t like to be treated like an idiot. Charlie and Denise are opposites in the love game and I see she is not sexy enough for him (it’s in his approach, though) and this is where they break down, and it gets nastier and nastier and then there’s no sex. Their combined relationship number is a 7 which shows upheavals in love and passion. Another battle in the bedroom and it’s a costly one at that. At least Denise has 2s in her numbers (Charlie doesn’t) and this shows that she will look after the children better than him.

What can we say about Alec? My first piece of advice for him would be to keep his mouth shut until he engages his brain! He is a life lesson 3 and a day number 3 so too much hot air comes out of his mouth. He needs to sit and centre himself before he speaks and more so when dealing with Kim. Kim is a firecracker and Alec’s put downs will only work against him. Alec will even try to be his own lawyer or take over from the one he has. (Only in Hollywood!) The thing with celebrities is that they get big heads and inflated egos from working in Tinseltown and they have no grasp on reality. Neither Alec or Kim have a 6 in their numbers so love is optional and they don’t like to lose. Alec is just about to enter a 9 cycle so it will be resolved to some extent this year.

Kim is fiery and being born on a day number 8 coupled with being a life lesson 11, she can handle herself in a scrap. I reckon she released the phone message of Alec and his daughter to the media and this advice came from lawyers and friends. They know Alec has a big mouth and given enough rope — well, you know the rest. This is working for Kim right now and will also help in court. The downside of these bitter battles Is Hollywood will get another bitter and mixed up child in the future. Kim is in a 3 cycle now which is good for courts and legal dealings, so I see her getting the edge on Alec through the year and settling this mess around November, maybe even out of court. If you want to be a lawyer go to Hollywood, the streets are lined with other egos’ gold!

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Hottest Oscar couples

Which is the hottest celebrity couple at Hollywood’s night of nights? You be the judge as we take a look at the sexiest Oscars duos from recent years. Vote for your favourite couple via the poll below on the far left.

Which is the hottest celebrity couple at Hollywood’s night of nights? You be the judge as we take a look at the sexiest Oscars duos from recent years. Vote for your favourite couple via the poll below on the far left.

Which is the hottest celebrity couple at Hollywood’s night of nights? You be the judge as we take a look at the sexiest Oscars duos from recent years. Vote for your favourite couple via the poll below on the far left.

Which is the hottest celebrity couple at Hollywood’s night of nights? You be the judge as we take a look at the sexiest Oscars duos from recent years. Vote for your favourite couple via the poll below on the far left.

Which is the hottest celebrity couple at Hollywood’s night of nights? You be the judge as we take a look at the sexiest Oscars duos from recent years. Vote for your favourite couple via the poll below on the far left.

Which is the hottest celebrity couple at Hollywood’s night of nights? You be the judge as we take a look at the sexiest Oscars duos from recent years. Vote for your favourite couple via the poll below on the far left.

Which is the hottest celebrity couple at Hollywood’s night of nights? You be the judge as we take a look at the sexiest Oscars duos from recent years. Vote for your favourite couple via the poll below on the far left.

Which is the hottest celebrity couple at Hollywood’s night of nights? You be the judge as we take a look at the sexiest Oscars duos from recent years. Vote for your favourite couple via the poll below on the far left.

Which is the hottest celebrity couple at Hollywood’s night of nights? You be the judge as we take a look at the sexiest Oscars duos from recent years. Vote for your favourite couple via the poll below on the far left.

Which is the hottest celebrity couple at Hollywood’s night of nights? You be the judge as we take a look at the sexiest Oscars duos from recent years. Vote for your favourite couple via the poll below on the far left.

Which is the hottest celebrity couple at Hollywood’s night of nights? You be the judge as we take a look at the sexiest Oscars duos from recent years. Vote for your favourite couple via the poll below on the far left.

Which is the hottest celebrity couple at Hollywood’s night of nights? You be the judge as we take a look at the sexiest Oscars duos from recent years. Vote for your favourite couple via the poll below on the far left.

Which is the hottest celebrity couple at Hollywood’s night of nights? You be the judge as we take a look at the sexiest Oscars duos from recent years. Vote for your favourite couple via the poll below on the far left.

Which is the hottest celebrity couple at Hollywood’s night of nights? You be the judge as we take a look at the sexiest Oscars duos from recent years. Vote for your favourite couple via the poll below on the far left.

Which is the hottest celebrity couple at Hollywood’s night of nights? You be the judge as we take a look at the sexiest Oscars duos from recent years. Vote for your favourite couple via the poll below on the far left.

Which is the hottest celebrity couple at Hollywood’s night of nights? You be the judge as we take a look at the sexiest Oscars duos from recent years. Vote for your favourite couple via the poll below on the far left.

Which is the hottest celebrity couple at Hollywood’s night of nights? You be the judge as we take a look at the sexiest Oscars duos from recent years. Vote for your favourite couple via the poll below on the far left.

Which is the hottest celebrity couple at Hollywood’s night of nights? You be the judge as we take a look at the sexiest Oscars duos from recent years. Vote for your favourite couple via the poll below on the far left.

Which is the hottest celebrity couple at Hollywood’s night of nights? You be the judge as we take a look at the sexiest Oscars duos from recent years. Vote for your favourite couple via the poll below on the far left.

Which is the hottest celebrity couple at Hollywood’s night of nights? You be the judge as we take a look at the sexiest Oscars duos from recent years. Vote for your favourite couple via the poll below on the far left.

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George Clooney

George Clooney returns to long-running medical drama ER! To mark the occasion, we’re taking a peek at all things “Gorgeous George” — from his movies to his exes!

George Clooney returns to long-running medical drama ER! To mark the occasion, we’re taking a peek at all things “Gorgeous George” — from his movies to his exes!

George Clooney returns to long-running medical drama ER! To mark the occasion, we’re taking a peek at all things “Gorgeous George” — from his movies to his exes!

George Clooney returns to long-running medical drama ER! To mark the occasion, we’re taking a peek at all things “Gorgeous George” — from his movies to his exes!

George Clooney returns to long-running medical drama ER! To mark the occasion, we’re taking a peek at all things “Gorgeous George” — from his movies to his exes!

George Clooney returns to long-running medical drama ER! To mark the occasion, we’re taking a peek at all things “Gorgeous George” — from his movies to his exes!

George Clooney returns to long-running medical drama ER! To mark the occasion, we’re taking a peek at all things “Gorgeous George” — from his movies to his exes!

George Clooney returns to long-running medical drama ER! To mark the occasion, we’re taking a peek at all things “Gorgeous George” — from his movies to his exes!

George Clooney returns to long-running medical drama ER! To mark the occasion, we’re taking a peek at all things “Gorgeous George” — from his movies to his exes!

George Clooney returns to long-running medical drama ER! To mark the occasion, we’re taking a peek at all things “Gorgeous George” — from his movies to his exes!

George Clooney returns to long-running medical drama ER! To mark the occasion, we’re taking a peek at all things “Gorgeous George” — from his movies to his exes!

George Clooney returns to long-running medical drama ER! To mark the occasion, we’re taking a peek at all things “Gorgeous George” — from his movies to his exes!

George Clooney returns to long-running medical drama ER! To mark the occasion, we’re taking a peek at all things “Gorgeous George” — from his movies to his exes!

George Clooney returns to long-running medical drama ER! To mark the occasion, we’re taking a peek at all things “Gorgeous George” — from his movies to his exes!

George Clooney returns to long-running medical drama ER! To mark the occasion, we’re taking a peek at all things “Gorgeous George” — from his movies to his exes!

George Clooney returns to long-running medical drama ER! To mark the occasion, we’re taking a peek at all things “Gorgeous George” — from his movies to his exes!

George Clooney returns to long-running medical drama ER! To mark the occasion, we’re taking a peek at all things “Gorgeous George” — from his movies to his exes!

George Clooney returns to long-running medical drama ER! To mark the occasion, we’re taking a peek at all things “Gorgeous George” — from his movies to his exes!

George Clooney returns to long-running medical drama ER! To mark the occasion, we’re taking a peek at all things “Gorgeous George” — from his movies to his exes!

George Clooney returns to long-running medical drama ER! To mark the occasion, we’re taking a peek at all things “Gorgeous George” — from his movies to his exes!

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Max Coppa’s guide to celebrity couples

Megan is a life lesson 1 and has lots of ideas and plans and the intelligence to achieve them. She also has natural charm and sex appeal. Megan will be entering an 8 cycle in August this year which is very good for business, prestige, and passion. Andy will need his vitamins and plenty of rest to keep up! Andy is the talker and has the right words to sway Megan, who liked his wit from the get-go. He has a 2-5-8 combination in his grid which shows he has a lot of potential and will make his own way in life. This Gemini has the goods and he is planning his new path now. Andy and Megan are a hot pair and will be having a great Valentines Day. As a match they score an 8.5/10.

William is the warmer partner in this relationship. Kate is cooler and more practical. Her life lesson 3 shows that she likes freedom and fun, but it also makes her restless in relationships so it is important that she has the right partner, and one who listens to her. 2009 will be a tough cycle for them, so they must be prepared to work on their relationship and not let pressure from family or friends affect them. Their romance is a tough journey at the best of times. They need blessings or they could end up like many other royals. But their combined life lesson numbers show that their relationship can succeed if they really work at it. They shouldn’t blindly follow old-fashioned royal ways, but forge their own path. They score a cool 6/10.

There is lots of love in this relationship. Lisa has 6s in her birth date (love, balance and harmony) and she nurtures and cares for Patrick. Her double 5s and double 6s fill his heart and he couldn’t ask for a better partner. Patrick gives her passion, financial security and love. They are both life lesson 7s which means that life will deal them some hard challenges, but their union has overcome blocks on their journey. They both have a 1-5-9 combination in their grids which makes them strive to achieve their goals. The 8s in Patrick’s birth date show that he will face life-and-death challenges, but these two have experienced true love and that really counts. Some people only dream of this — they live it! Patrick and Lisa have so much to be proud of and their relationship is a 9.5/10.

Johnny is born on a day number 9 which makes him moody, intriguing and a bit of a chameleon. Johnny’s 3-6-9 combination is an asset for acting and shows that he is very bright. His life lesson 7 makes him unique and rebellious, which is why he’s good at odd-ball characters. Vanessa has four 2s in her birth date which makes her very feminine and a great nurturer, although she can be needy. As a life lesson 8, Vanessa knows what she wants and sets out to achieve it — money, passion, position and her family are important to her. At first glance, Johnny and Vanessa’s numbers don’t show a lot in common. Most people will not understand their love, but it works for them. They blend their differences well and are still going strong. Their relationship is a quirky 7/10.

They’ve split after almost five years together. Their numbers show that Chelsy’s expectations of Harry were not met. Chelsy knows how to push his buttons and Harry knows how to charm her, but Neither Chelsy or Harry have any 6s in their numbers, so their relationship was probably more physical than romantic. They are both life lesson 1s and have a 1-5-9 combination, making them ambitious — there would’ve been clashes between these two strong characters. Harry is currently in a 7 cycle (change, ideas and insight) which can be disruptive. He has a sense of adventure, but must not take unnecessary risks this year. Chelsy is in a 6 cycle (love, balance and harmony) which she’ll need to tend to. Harry and Chelsy had potential but let it slide. As a match they were a 5/10.

Kylie and hunky new beau are both life lesson 3s, which represents communication, socialising and self expression. Kylie and Andres blend well together and fun is their middle name. They don’t put pressure on each other which makes their relationship easier. They are both free spirits so this works for Kylie where others have failed. They say Geminis are restless and with no 4s in her birthdate, Kylie needs a man who has some backbone and passion. She is bright and needs this in her partner also. Andres has some of these attributes and this makes for a good Valentines Day and possibly year ahead. He is a talker and this suits a Gemini to the ground. Lots of passionate talks on the phone will set the scene for a sizzling February for these two. This match scores a 6/10.

This pair is on-again, off-again, and while they have some things in common, it is unlikely they’ll last. Jen is drawn to John’s quirkiness, wit and intelligence. John is drawn to her independent spirit, mysterious nature and sensitive side. The both have insecurities about relationships, which may draw them together. Jen seems a cool Aquarian, but has a strong need for love and a family of her own. The two 7s and three 1s in John’s birth date make him changeable, and his day number 16 makes him charming and mischievous. Jen enters a 6 cycle (love, balance and harmony) in February, so if John doesn’t make a commitment, it’s likely Jen will move on. John is in a 9 cycle (endings and sorting out his inner self) so may find it hard to make decision this year. This match is a 5/10.

Lleyton has gone through a lot of changes in the last 12 months, with injuries and an addition to the family. He may have contemplated retirement last year because of injury. In February this year, he enters a very positive 1 cycle so we will see the Lleyton Hewitt of old again this year. Bec is the motivator behind Lleyton. She is a true romantic who tunes in to his needs, which won him over in the first place. Their combined numbers show that Valentines Day will be a good one this year — they are likely to spend up big which will be good for the retail sector! Bec and Lleyton’s love knows no bounds and I even hear the pitter-patter of tiny feet again in the future. A happy year is ahead for these two — game, set and match. These two love birds score 8/10.

Mary is the strong and driven member of this relationship, who knows how to get her own way. Her life lesson 8 shows that she is very passionate — money and prestige are high on her agenda. Frederik likes her vitality and cool demeanour, it’s sexy and a little Marlene Dietrich. Mary likes Fred’s romantic approach. He woos her with gifts and words and he sure has the money! He is a life lesson 1 which gives him strength and drive. Life lesson 1s and 8s work well together. Mary is in a 9 cycle this year and this may cool her passion a little, so a cruise to the Caribbean will rekindle things. Mary and Frederik’s love life is constantly under the microscope and while some may rate them highly, this numeric pairing scores a more realistic 6.5/10.

Angelina has a 6-5-4 combination in her grid which is great for love and relationships. She has high expectations and drive in this area of her life, and she gets what she wants. She is a life lesson 5 which gives her purpose and drive. Her strong day number 4 shows that she has a strong physical presence, so Brad will be drawn to her. As a life lesson 4, Brad is drawn to Ange because he likes a challenge. His day number 18 and 3-6-9 combination in his grid fascinates Ange and makes him smart and sexy. Brad has a sense of humour and speaks with purpose. They are great ambassadors for Valentines Day and a very cool and well-matched pair. But too many children could slow the mood! If they make the time for each other, this steamy relationship has longevity. This match scores 8.5/10.

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Brad and Ange’s baby bump mystery

Angelina bonds with her in-laws as speculation she’s pregnant grows. Plus! Inside the family truce.

Just five months after Angelina Jolie welcomed twins Knox and Vivienne into the world, Hollywood is abuzz with speculation that she and Brad Pitt are expecting their seventh child.

The glamorous actress had a slightly rounded tummy at the LA premiere of Brad’s new movie, The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, and there have been several US reports suggesting Angelina, 33, is pregnant again.

The star is also believed to have paid a visit to her obstetrician, Dr Jason Rothbart, adding weight to the rumours.

“They don’t use any birth control, so it’s completely possible she is pregnant again,” a close friend recently told In Touch magazine, adding that Angelina prefers “letting nature run its course” when it comes to family planning.

However Brisbane-based obstetrician Dr Gino Pecoraro points out that Ange’s slight belly bulge could be the result of “stretching” from her previous pregnancies.

It’s well known the couple would love more children — biological or adopted — and Ange has told British Elle magazine that she and Brad, 45 this week, plan to have them in quick succession.

“If we’re going to have 10 kids, we’d like to raise them while we’re young,” she said.

For the full story, see this week’s Woman’s Day (on sale December 15).

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Katie’s shock news: I can’t have another baby

The actress dashes Tom’s hopes of giving Suri a baby brother or sister.

Katie Holmes has told husband Tom Cruise to put his baby expectations on hold, declaring she won’t have another child despite his burning desire to expand their family.

Dismissing published claims that Katie is pregnant, the star’s rep last week confirmed to Woman’s Day that she is not expecting another child. Indeed, insiders say Katie has put her foot down, informing her husband that she wants to concentrate on her revitalised career.

Keen to cash in on the critical acclaim she has earned while performing in All My Sons on Broadway, an emboldened Katie has told Tom, 46, that she can’t have another child, because she wants to head straight into another project as soon as the show ends on January 11.

“She’s put so much hard work into the play, and because of it she’s getting a lot of film offers,” a friend of Katie tells Woman’s Day. “She’s the toast of Broadway and she’d be a fool to stop her career momentum now.

“Having another baby would mean she’d need to take another two years off work to give the baby the attention she wants to give it.”

For the full story, see this week’s Woman’s Day (on sale December 15).

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In the mag – December 22, 2008

Issue on sale Monday December 15, 2008

Katie’s shock news: I can’t have another baby

The actress dashes Tom’s hopes of giving Suri a baby brother or sister…

Brad and Ange’s baby bump mystery

Angelina bonds with her in-laws as speculation she’s pregnant grows. Plus! Inside the family truce…

Christmas with the stars

Our favourite celebrities and their children gathered together to share fabulous festive fare and good cheer. Don’t miss the fun picture gallery and our recipe for roast turkey with pancetta and macadamia stuffing.

Exclusive: Reggie goes to guide dog school

The Big Brother star is trying to come to terms with her fast-fading sight.

Kerryn McCann, 1967-2008: Her brave fight to the end

Kerryn stored up memories for her young family before losing the race she most wanted to win…

  • Traditional Christmas for 8:

Baked ham with port and orange glaze

and Classic trifle

  • Festive salad:

Roast pumpkin, spinach and feta salad

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Christmas with the stars

Our favourite celebrities and their children gathered together to share fabulous festive fare and good cheer, and to wish all our Woman’s Day readers a very Merry Christmas!

Join in the celebration with Network Ten’s Angela Bishop with her daughter Amelia; Nine Network’s Mark Ferguson with sons Teddy and Paddy; actor Roger Corser; 2WS-FM’s Amanda Keller with sons Liam and Jack; and Nine’s Jaynie Seal and Ed Phillips with their son Hayden.

Gather ’round the Christmas tree with Nine Network’s Catriona Rowntree, Shelley Craft and Natalie Gruzlewski, and actress Vanessa Gray.

And have some fun in the sun by the pool with TV hunks actor Justin Melvey, Getaway‘s Jason Dundas, and The Biggest Loser‘s Shannon Ponton.

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