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I was held captive by a giant pig

Pensioner Carolyn Hayes made world headlines when a pig the size of a pony held her hostage in a terrifying ordeal.

When animal lover Carolyn Hayes befriended a stray pig that had wandered onto her rural property at Uki on the New South Wales/Queensland border, she had no idea she was setting in motion a reign of terror that would see the 63-year-old held hostage inside her own home, terrorised and fearing for her life.

“I’ve had huge carpet snakes inside my house, and while I’m used to stray animals and wildlife, this experience was like something out of a horror show,” says Carolyn, shaking her head.

The petite grandmother’s dramas began three days after she befriended the stray pig she had affectionately nicknamed Bruce.

“When Bruce first wandered onto my property a few weeks ago, I felt sorry for him,” she explains. “He had ticks in his eyes and a cut down his back from lantana in the rainforest. He looked like he’d been living in the scrub for quite a while, and because I love animals and couldn’t stand to see him suffer like that, I got the ticks out and put cream on his wounds.

“He was really friendly until on the third day. I decided to give him some food. I had no idea that by doing that, I had automatically turned myself from friend to his sole food source — and I soon learnt that when he wanted to be fed, he wanted to be fed now…”

Read the full story in this week’s Woman’s Day (on-sale October 6, 2008)

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Katie quits Scientology

Katie Holmes has reportedly dropped a bombshell on her husband Tom Cruise by announcing her intention to quit Scientology.

Buoyed by her new-found independence in New York, Katie finally took the plunge and told Tom of her plans to turn her back on the religion after beginning to question some of its rules and practices.

Now friends say that the star couple’s marriage may be facing a crisis as strict Scientologist Tom contemplates having to tone down the rules he has reportedly laid down to raise daughter Suri, 2.

“Katie got bold and told Tom that she’s ready to leave the religion,” claims a friend. “Tom is worried and now their marriage may have to change in a lot of ways.”

According to some former Scientology members, anyone who leaves the church must be disconnected from current members, including their spouses and children…

Read the full story in this week’s Woman’s Day (on-sale October 6, 2008)

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In the mag – October 13, 2008

Issue on sale Monday October 6, 2008

Katie quits Scientology

Katie Holmes has reportedly dropped a bombshell on her husband Tom Cruise by announcing her intention to quit Scientology.

Bitter new rift splits Irwin family

A new series of disputes between Terri and Bob Irwin look set to split the family even further apart.

Kyle and Tamara’s extravagant wedding

The celeb couple tie the knot in the most over-the-top ceremony in years.

James and Erica Packer’s new baby girl

Erica Packer has shown that she’s taken to motherhood with ease as she stepped out with her adorable 10-week-old baby daughter Indigo to visit some friends.

Is Julia Roberts pregnant again?

The actress sparks baby talk as she reveals a fuller figure in New York.

True life: “I was held captive by a giant pig”

Pensioner Carolyn Hayes made world headlines when a pig the size of a pony held her hostage in a terrifying ordeal.

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Is Julia pregnant again?

The actress sparks baby talk as she reveals a fuller figure in New York. Julia Roberts has sent the rumour mill into overdrive after going to extreme lengths to cover up her tummy while in New York last week.

The actress, doting mum to twins Hazel and Phinnaeus, 3, and son Henry, 1, was careful to keep her midriff under wraps while leaving a trendy eatery with her sister Lisa. Julia quickly covered the front of her body with a pashmina.

Days earlier, the Pretty Woman star also had a noticeably fuller figure during a rare public appearance at the Stand Up For A Cure cancer charity event in the same city.

Friends told The National Enquirer that Julia, 40, and her husband Danny Moder, 39, want another child — a little girl to balance out the genders…

Read the full story in Woman’s Day (on-sale October 6, 2008)

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James and Erica’s new baby girl

Erica Packer has shown that she’s taken to motherhood with ease as she stepped out with her adorable 10-week-old baby daughter Indigo to visit some friends.

With her ability to switch from high glamour on the red carpet one day — at events such as The Australian Women’s Weekly‘s glittering 75th birthday bash — to laid-back, involved mother the next, Erica proves she’s more than deserving of the “yummy mumy” tag.

Wearing a stylish maxi-dress, Erica seemed to be enjoying her first foray into motherhood as she gave onlookers a glimpse of the tiny heiress.

As the daughter of Australian business tycoon James Packer, Indigo has been born into one of Australia’s most powerful families — but for now it’s clear that the tiny tot’s world revolves around less complicated things.

Since Erica gave birth to Indigo on July 27, friends say she has slipped seamlessly into motherhood with very little fuss.

“Motherhood is a wonderful experience, but a little more sleep wouldn’t go astray,” Erica told The Sydney Morning Herald while attending The Australian Women’s Weekly‘s bash recently…

For the full story and more pictures, see this week’s Woman’s Day (on-sale October 6, 2008)

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Kyle and Tamara’s extravagant wedding

The celeb couple tie the knot in the most over-the-top ceremony in years.

The wedding of King Kyle Sandilands to his Queen, pop diva Tamara Jaber, was never destined to be a quiet, low-key affair. But the reality — replete with crowns, thrones, belly dancers, celebs, crowds and street blockades — surpassed all expectations, even for the bride and groom.

“It was the most over-the-top wedding I’ve ever seen!” laughed Princess Mary’s chief bridesmaid, Amber Petty, who knows a bit about royal nuptials. “Obviously, Mary’s wedding was very beautiful and emotional for me, but this was like a romantic circus!”

And that’s exactly what the flamboyant couple had planned — a show to celebrate their love, reflect Tamara’s half-Lebanese heritage and rival Kyle’s Australian Idol gig for razzamatazz.

The newlyweds were even carried into their reception on a double throne, accompanied by a Lebanese drum and pipe band, as a gigantic mirror ball sparkled overhead.

“We wanted everyone to be like, ‘Wow!’ because we are both a bit extravagant and like to make everything theatrical,” explained the stunning bride, whose strapless white silk Joanne Panzarino gown featured 200 metres of fabric and a frilled, three-metre train…

For the full article, plus pictures of the big day, see this week’s Woman’s Day (on-sale October 6, 2008)

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Bitter new rift splits Irwin family

A new series of disputes between Terri and Bob Irwin look set to split the family even further apart.

The feud between Steve Irwin’s widow Terri and his father Bob Irwin has hit a new low. Bindi Irwin’s grandfather has become a virtual stranger to the child star and her little brother Robert, who have seen him just once this year.

The relationship between The Crocodile Hunter’s father and widow has been strained since his death, with the two in disagreement over the direction of Australia Zoo and the welfare of Bindi and Robert, who help to promote it. However, the rift has now widened, with the pair embroiled in a legal stoush over land given to the family to commemorate Steve.

In the new legal battle, Terri is fighting to stop mining taking place on Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve in Cape York, with Bob in support of mining plans…

Read the full story in Woman’s Day (on-sale October 6, 2008)

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Celebs in furry-looking fashion!

Liz has come under fire from animal rights activists after signing up to be the latest face of US fur company Blackglama. And it’s not the first time. At a party in 2001, an activist doused one of Liz’s white furs in red wine and called her a “murdering b—h!”

Liz Hurley is one in a long line of celebs who have come under fire for associations with fur. And she does seem to have quite the selection!

Fur has ‘casual’ in its repertoire — who knew?

In 2002, model Gisele Bundchen got more than free lingerie at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. Activists protested on the runway against Gisele’s deal with Blackglama, dubbing her “fur scum”.

Lindsay is also a serial fur-wearer, pictured here looking fluffy on New Years Eve in 2004.

LiLo went feline for MTV’s TRL Award Show, held in New York City on February 21, 2005.

To fend off the cold of a New York winter, Lindsay wears a magestic-looking coat…

But when Lindsay arrived in London from Paris this month (Nov ’08), she was not wearing fur despite the wintery chill. Why? Because, just days before, she had a bundle of flour thrown at her by animal rights activists for her long line of furry fashion statements.

Desperate Housewives‘ Eva looked anything but desperate in her lavish coat.

This fuzzy number isn’t fur, but Gwyneth copped a serve from PETA after being photographed wearing a fox stole. She has since apologised via an American magazine:

“During one set-up, a stylist came up from behind and draped a stole around my shoulder.

“I didn’t pay much attention to it, and when I noticed it was fur, I assumed it was fake fur, but did not ask, so it’s my fault.”

Supermodel Kate Moss braved the cold, the rain and Pete Doherty in this plush number.

Did Mischa get into the genuine spirit of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s “WILD: Fashion Untamed” exhibit?

Real or fake? Let’s hope it’s the latter, because this one from The Body’s wardrobe looks a bit like an endangered species!

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Beat the wheeze with trees

Beat the wheeze with trees

Although pollen from trees may pose a problem for children with asthma, a study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health claims trees actually reduce asthma rates.

Columbia University researchers found asthma incidence in children aged 4-5 years fell by nearly 30% for every extra 343 trees planted per square kilometre. There were also fewer hospitalisations for asthma attacks, even when risk factors like pollution and pets were taken into account.

Two reasons are suggested: one, trees clean the air and encourage outdoor play and two, exposing children to pollen could possibly help desensitise their immune systems to allergens.

Your say: Does anyone in your family suffer from asthma or allergies? Do you find that being outside improves their condition? Tell us below.

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Heather Locklear joins AA

Just days after being arrested for DUI, Heather Locklear has attended her first Alcoholics Anonymous meeting in Los Angeles.

The Melrose Place star was arrested last Saturday after she stumbled through a supermarket, climbed behind the wheel of her BMW and began driving erratically through the carpark, causing a concerned witness to call 911.

Despite a police admission that Heather was under the influence of prescription drugs, not alcohol, she still showed up for the AA meeting, politely introducing herself to the star-struck recovering alcoholics at her local church hall.

Dressed in black and with her hair tied back, Heather was joined by her boyfriend Jack Wagner, who held her hand throughout the meeting and drove her home at the end of the night.

Heather will soon face charges in court over the DUI incident, and she’ll no doubt fare better in front of the judge now that she’s seeking help for her addiction.

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