Fame? I spit on fame.....

Is it just me or does everyone think fame is a very over rated thing?

You know…there are probably lots of famous people who have got away with it.

Famous people who have got the money and the adulation, the good table at a top restaurant…without the personal price tag.

But not many.

Depending which magazine you read this week, Nicole Kidman is either bravely standing by her man or threatening divorce…or if you read New Idea, completely to blame for her husband checking into rehab. Apparently Nicole shouldn’t have thoughlessly gone to help the broken women of Kosovo…and if she wasn’t such a selfish cow…Keith wouldn’t have been forced to jump off the wagon.

Then there’s poor old Mary…due for a holiday with the folks on the apple isle…just weeks after the world found out she was expecting another baby. Can you imagine how miserable that holiday is going to be? She’ll be trapped at home in Tassie…no going out to lunch…no strolling through the shops with her step mum…no showing little Christian the parks where she played when she was a kid.

Just staring out the loungeroom window at the Papparazzi camped outside. I don’t think it sounds fun at all…

Obviously, I'm only saying all that to comfort myself. Because without doubt, the only thing worse than being as famous as Nicole and Mary, is being me.

First up, I should thank the Sunshine Coast for watching 'Overhaul' (6.30 Sunday nights, channel nine).

Episode two went to air on Sunday night. Because of the ARIA's, we were up against Idol this week and while the show did fantastically well here on the Sunshine Coast…the rest of you bastards around Australia apparently weren't that keen. Bugger…

And, I've got to tell you, it’s very stressful being on a losing show. Yesterday I went on a Sydney Morning Herald blog where they were being nasty about Overhaul, calling us the new Yasmin!!! Anyway, I wrote something quickly, basically telling them to lay off the Yasmin gags, that it was giving my work colleagues WAY to much of a good time. Immediately some guy called lucas (yes...he uses lower case...although he's hardly t s eliot) wrote back "caroline…your show sucks…your three minutes is over…bye bye…"

I bet no-one ever says anything nasty like that about our Mary…

Truth or lies...

Is it just me or does everyone think truth is a funny thing?

How is it, that two people can look back at the exact same set of events and see them completely differently?

Members of the same family do it…some kids remember a happy upbringing…maybe a bit harsh…but all in all.. not too bad…their siblings can see it completey differently…a childhood of hardship and deprivation…it’s a common problem.

This morning YOUNG Talent Time founder Johnny Young has hit back at YTT star Debra Byrnes childhood recollections….

In an interview this week to promote her new book Debbie Byrne has claimed she was introduced to sex drugs and rock and roll on the set of young talent time…she says she was 12 when she started a relationship with a 24-year-old YTT crew member.

"That's illegal and they must have known," she said. "It's frightening no-one stopped us."
But Johnny Young isn’t having it. Overnight he said Young Talent Time first went to air in April, 1971, and Ms Byrne turns 50 next March, so she must have been at least 14 when she first appeared on the show.

"Debra was 14 when she started on Young Talent Time and she was 15 going on 16 when she ran off with the boom operator without anybody knowing, causing incredible havoc for us," he said.

Debra Byrne also intimates in the interview that there is history between her and John Young…saying she would prefer it if she never saw or spoke of him again.

John Young is furious about that quote too…he says he was comfortable about his own relationship with Byrne at the time.

"I have absolutely nothing to hide, my integrity is intact. I've searched my conscience and my memory and I don't recall ever being alone, one on one, with Debra in any kind of situation.

"We were a family."

That's right Johnny, and family don't always like each other!

More net alert!

Is it just me or does everyone think internet addiction is something that needs a lot more attention in our community?

Yesterday I talked about a study just conducted at Stanford University School of Medicine, which found that "more than one out of eight Americans are exhibiting signs of problematic internet use".

The study found, internet addicts are exhibiting similar behaviour to alcoholics.
In particular, doctors point to people hiding their nonessential internet use and using the internet to make themselves feel better.

I was inundated with people wanting to tell me their stories (which I thought was funny…because they were obviously on the internet…lamenting internet addiction).

A woman called Cindy told me her sister was divorced by her husband because of the enormous amount of time she spent in front of her computer. Cindy says over time her sister would stay on the internet so long that she wouldn’t get out of the house to do the groceries, missed doctor’s appointments for her kids and forgot to pay bills.

We got a call from a lady yesterday who said her 21 year old nephew has ruined his life playing world of warcraft. She says he has dropped out of uni and is receiving counselling but his psychologist says he is so addicted to WoW it is too early for his parents to insist he stop playing the game yet.

And one email I got confirmed that, Erin from Caloundra told me that when her friend removed the computer from her house to stop her son’s addiction, he completely lost control, when he found out the computer was gone for good his body actually went into convulsions before he began throwing tables and chairs around the house.

Nicola from Golden Beach says she controls the net with an oven timer…each kid gets half an hour each. End of discussion.

But yesterdays response made me realise there is a problem out there. So if you’re worried about yourself or someone in your family, NetAlert is the Australian government body which offers a free telephone helpline …the number to call 1800 880 176.

Gaming?

Is it just me or does everyone have a love hate relationship with the family computer?

I use the internet everyday for work. And it’s the greatest invention ever for radio announcers, but I guess it doesn’t matter what industry you’re in, the internet has probably revolutionised your work.

At home though, I think I hate it. My kids are right into some thing called End Game at the moment. I don’t know what it is (I don’t want to know what it is…I just want them to turn off the computer and go outside). It is such a waste of time. Not to mention the fact I am sick of referreeing over whose turn it supposedly is.

A study just conducted at Stanford University School of Medicine, found that "more than one out of eight Americans exhibited at least one possible sign of problematic internet use".
Apparently, internet addicts are exhibiting similar behaviour to alcoholics.

In particular, doctors point to people hiding their nonessential internet use and using the internet to make themselves feel better.

The study investigated people who reported they found it hard to stay away from the internet for several days at a time, people who attempted to conceal non-essential internet use from family, friends and employers and those who felt their relationships suffered as a result of excessive internet use.

Of particular concern are people who use the internet as a way to escape problems or relieve negative moods. Affected families liken internet addiction to drug use….with personality changes, social withdrawal and aggressive and secretive behaviour the norm.

Doctors are most concerned about the people known as ‘gamers’. These are people who live inside a virtual world…the game of the moment is apparently World of Warcraft (or WoW for the initiated).

They say normal participation in this game is around 30 hours a week! True addicts, even more. In May this year a 13 year old chinese boy threw himelf off his apartment building after playing World of Warcraft for 36 hours straight.

For the record, I don’t think we’re quite there at my house yet but if you’re worried about yourself or someone in your family, NetAlert is the Australian government body which offers a free telephone helpline …the number to call 1800 880 176.

Getting warmer....

Is it just me or was everyone wondering when the penny finally dropped?

For years, this liberal government has been denying that global warming exists. We won’t sign the Kyoto protocol…John Howard has pretty steadfastly refused to acknowledge that there is even a problem…

And the electorate is way ahead of him. The Lowy Institute published a poll this month which found 68 per cent of Australians believe global heating is a more critical threat than Islamic fundamentalism.

That’s right! 68 per cent of us are more scared of the disintegrating planet than anything else! Yet still the government wouldn’t listen..

But then something shifted. You might have noticed a change in the government over the past couple of weeks, a willingness to discuss environmental issues.

Sure, some of the discussion has been about nuclear power (and that’s another debate we have to have with John Howard), but finally, at least this government is putting the planet first.

According to an article in the Sydney Morning Herald, it’s all thanks to Alexander Downer.
Journalist Peter Harcher writes, “two weeks ago, Alexander Downer, like a good local member, made an appearance between the flower displays and the dog judging at the Port Elliott Show in his electorate near Adelaide.”

It was 33 degrees and blowing a gale. A disgusting day. Apparently it changed Mr Downer’s mind.

For years (while this liberal government has denied global warming even exists), there has been one liberal politican in South Australia, Greg Hunt, banging the drum.

The morning after the Port Elliot show, Mr Downer reportedly called Mr Hunt. “It’s time.” He said.

Peter Harcher says Alexander Downer got on the band wagon immediately, and the conversion of the Howard government is now complete.

Alexander Downer has said while Australia will still probably not sign the Kyoto agreement, Australia will exceed the ambitions of Kyoto in cutting greenhouse gases.

Even the head of the Co-operative Research Centre for Greenhouses Gas Technologies, Dr Peter Cook, now claims the Government now has religion on global warming. Amen to that.

Fatty Boombah!!!

Is it just me or does everyone going to be very nervous all weekend?

On Sunday night at 6.30 on channel nine my husband John and I are going to be part of a tv show called overhaul.

You might or might not know that back in June, he and I were whisked away to an exotic location for fat camp. Seven days of little food and much exercise.

When I signed on – I knew there would be many humiliating moments on a reality tv show about weight loss. I've seen the biggest loser! I know what a big bott bott looks like in slow motion running up a hill….

At the time I didn’t care. Honestly. I was thinking, that if it all goes according to plan, by the time the ugly shots go to air I will be so beeaaaauuuutiful I won’t care a bit.

Blah blah blah…I was kidding myself! Absolutely kidding my
Self! I’m petrified about Sunday and if it’s foul and embarrassing and you all watch it and think…"Oh my god! What an idiot! I would NEVER do that to myself!" Then I don’t want to hear it…Ok?

Lots of people have offered to all get together on Sunday night for a bit of an overhaul launch party, sadly, I can’t do it! I know there are going to be moments when people are forced to turn away from the train accident that is Johnny and I wobbling around Hinchenbrook Island.

Anyway. 6.30pm Sunday night. Go on. Have a laugh.

I do...

Is it just me or does everyone think that marriage can be right at any age?

There’s a very young couple in new south wales battling the courts for the right to be married. 19 year old Wayne and his 17 year old fiance Zara have been told by a judge they don’t have a good enough excuse to get married, and she wants them to go away and improve their relationship.

Apparently Wayne and Zara have been seeing each other for more than three years, they live together, sleep in the same bed and even have their parents' blessing – it’s on the court that thinks they shouldn’t marry.

Under NSW law, one member of a couple has to be over 18 years of age and if the under-aged person is between 16 and 18, there must be a court order giving permission. Nobody under 16 is allowed to marry in Australia.

I don’t encourage marriage at such a young age. But there are thousands of elderly couples in Australia today who married when they were 17 and 19…and they’re living proof that you can know your own mind at such a young age.

John and I got engaged when I was 19…married when I was 20… I know that’s not going to be for everyone. I know there were lots of people who thought my Mum was mad giving it her unqualified blessing. But Mum knew me and she knew John and I – we weren’t idiots (and hasn’t it all come up roses...)

Marrying young is not always going to be right...I know that. My sister got married at nineteen and it didn’t last, but that because she married someone who annoyed the crap out of her, not because there’s anything wrong with the institution itself…

Marriage is always going to be a gamble – but like I said before there are thousands and thousands of couples who married young living well in Australia. We should give kids of today the same credit. You can know what you want at 17. You can know love. And you should be respected enough to make choices for yourself.

Buzz baby!

Is it just me or is everyone feeling empowered today?

Buzz words. They just aren’t my cup of tea…but sometimes (I must confess) I find myself falling in to line and using them, just to fit in with all the cool kids. I know. I’m pathetic.

Radio is full of them is full of buzz words. It seems to me that the full time job of the radio consultant is actually to stay in touch with the current buzz word.

About six or seven years ago, the buzz word for radio was 'water cooler talk'. Obviously out of America, what it supposedly signifies is "What’s everyone talking about around the water cooler.” And what that means is, what will people be chatting about at work today? So even though we all know that no Australians use the term 'water cooler' we still embraced the buzz word…

And now! I see 'water cooler talk' is not even just a radio term, it's finally made it to the main stream. The Sydney Morning Herald even has a section now called Water Cooler…dedicated to what people are talking about…


A few years ago, radio consultants came up with a new buzz word. It's a 'primal'.

The idea being, what invokes a strong emotion in a listener. What makes them scared or angry or sad? So we’re always looking for a primal (which is in fact an adjective, therefore cannot by definition, actually be 'found'...but in radio we're always looking for the 'primal' anyway...)

Having said that, it doesn’t matter what industry you work in. In 2006 buzz words are the way some people like to show that they’re ahead of the game (dare I say it…that they’ve got their finger on the pulse…)

So if you haven’t diarised a meeting to touch base with stakeholders…well…I’m grateful we’re on this journey together and I want to move forward with you…but I’m really looking for some synergy…and at the end of the day I’m just not sure we’re on the same page…

The devil wears Target!

Is it just me or does everyone love a bargain?

I remember a couple of years ago I walked onto my friends back verandah where a lot of girls were sitting. Someone said “Nice top Caroline.” I said “Thanks, ten bucks at my favourite shop.”

Everyone was mightily impressed.

No to be outdone, my friend cried “Ripped off!” and flashed her sunglasses, “five dollars down at Mooloolaba, top that!”

In the car later, my son was laughing, “That would never happen with my friends.”

It’s called down-shopping. That’s right! It’s so groovy some fashionista has even given it a name. Apparently all the cool people are doing it…

Sarah Jessica Parker has been bleating about shopping at k mart. Victoria Beckham loves some British chain called Topshop and Stella Mcartney has apparently designed a new range for Harvey Nicks.

It makes me laugh that it’s suddenly cool to be a bargain hunter. Most people I know have been at it for years.

For my money, a Country Road top is worthless unless you had a fist fight for it with another shopper on the first day of the Myer sale…

A Prada hand bag is only interesting to me if you bought it from a dodgy looking bloke at the back of a Bangkok market…

I’m not blind to haute couture. There’s a great moment in the movie “The Devil Wears Prada”, when Meryl Streep’s character gives a nasty by illuminating speech about why a cerulean (that’s blue by the way) jumper is only available to plebs shopping off the rack, because the designers we plebs like to mock thought of it years ago for the Milan fashion show..

All the same, whenever I see the REAL cost of a little Chanel suit or a Luis Vuitton bath bag, I can’t help but think of little children starving in Africa.

I know! I know! I’m probably the fashion Devil…but trust me, this little devil doesn't want to wear Prada. She’s much happier in Target.

Defending Madonna?

Is it just me or does everyone believe every child deserves to be loved?

There’s a battle raging in Africa this morning, over a baby boy called David.

HUMAN rights groups in the African nation Malawi are going to court today, to try to stop pop singer Madonna and her husband Guy Richie from adopting 13 month old David.

Malawian law prohibits adoptions by non-residents, but officials had granted an exemption to Madonna.

Madonna and Guy apparently left Malawi on Friday without the child, who did not have a passport.

Now I am not a Madonna fan. I know I don’t know her, but I haven’t admired her career. I think she’s a great performer with absolutely nothing to say other than look at me! Look at me! And I think she trod on her family to get to the top.

Having said that, I have no doubt she is a mother who loves her children and would be a good parent to this little boy.

I understand there’s a lot of concern about arrogant westerners adopting children from poor nations. I understand the disquiet over celebrities appearing to be able to adopt more quickly than mere mortals.

What I don’t understand is how we justify leaving one year old David in a dilapidated orphanage in a poverty stricken nation with absolutely no hope of an education or local adoption.

There are 900 000 orphans in Malawi. Madonna and Guy Richie have pledged four million dollars to their plight. In return they hoped to take little David back to England with them.

David’s mother is dead. His father is alive but desperately poor, he says he is unable to take care of David.

My cousin Elizabeth was adopted from overseas. Her family has never denied her heritage, and has spent thousands of dollars they probably couldn’t afford paying for Elizabeth to visit relatives in Korea.

I know for a fact that Elizabeth wouldn’t trade her life for anything.

We’re a global village. Surely, in a perfect world, all that matters is that every child possible is given a home of their own and a family to love.

Paraskevidekatriaphobia!

Is it just me or is everybody pretty blasé about Friday the 13th?

My sister was born on Friday the 13th and she’s lovely. I’ve never really had a problem with it. I was always jealous of a girl called Suzanne Akers at boarding school. She had strict instructions that she wasn’t allowed to go to school on Friday the 13th.

Apparently her family home had burned down on Friday the 13th and her uncle was killed in a car accident on Friday the 13th…subsequently her family had a rule, no one was allowed out of the house…on one hand I thought her family sounded like a bunch of kooks…on Friday the 13th I wished I was among their number.

Friday the 13th has an amazing history. One article I read claimed Eve gave Adam the apple on Friday the 13th. Maybe that’s where it all started.

Alexander the Great died on Friday the 13th, June 323BC.

The emperor Claudius eventually died on Friday the 13th, October 54AD, although his wife, Agrippina, did give him poisoned mushrooms, followed by a poison enema and finally had him smothered with a cushion....so I'm not sure bad luck was to blame for his demise.

Greek philosophers believed the number 13 was an imperfect number and Italian lotteries avoid the number completely.

Some ships' captains won't leave port on the 13th day. Composer Arnold Schonberg was irrational about the number 13 and he ended up dying on Friday 13th at exactly 13 minutes before midnight.

Some hotels omit a 13th floor; and when the Queen visited West Germany in 1965, the stationmaster at Duisburg arranged to change the number of the platform from which the Queen's train was due to depart from 13 to 12A.

What can I say? Have a great day…and kids…maybe think about staying home today…

To 'I do' or not to 'I do'...

Is it just me or does everyone think marriage is a great institution?

Actually…increasingly, I think this one might be just me!

I heard a news report last week about the escalating use of the prenuptial agreement in Australia.

Sienna Miller the English actress said this week that monogamy was over rated…that she couldn’t see it working for her…or Jude Law I guess.

When questioned about his marriage to Jennifer Aniston, Brad Pitt recently told a magazine "I see my [marriage] as a total success ... that's five more years than I made it with anyone else."
Lucky girl!

In fact according to the Bureau of statistics, the number of couples tying the knot is dwindling, with figures showing the annual number of marriages per 1000 people was 5.3 in 2001, the lowest number on record.

And for those who are taking the plunge, a lot of them are rewording the vows…which is ok…but not exactly optomistic or romantic… I don’t think I’d like to marry the guy who wanted to change the death til us part bit to "For as long as we continue to love each other", "For as long as our love shall last" and "Until our time together is over".

Marriage is obviously not for everyone, but I love being married. I'm glad John and I are still together after 18 years. I'm not saying we're the world's most exciting couple (or that I wouldn't mind a torrid affair with Leonardo Di Caprio some time soon) I'm just saying that what we've got is worth fighting for.

I don't think it's outdated or naive to say 'til death do us part'. It's romantic and we believe it's possible.

Some marriages are not worth saving. I know that too. My sister was a lot more relaxed when she left the man she now refers to only as 'the dick'. But divorce doesn't always equal bliss. In my experience, many people who trash their marriages only substitute one kind of unhappiness for another.

And sometimes, when people leave their partners for another, they soon discover it's the same old same old in the new relationship. The early excitement fades away and you've got to work to make it fun.

If I had a dollar for every pissed old radio announcer who had drunkenly told me 'I should never have left my first wife..." I'd be a very rich woman!

So I'm not saying people should stay in unhappy marriages...absolutely not. But don't give up on marriage either. Life is long, it's nice to think someone is in it for the long haul with you. xx

Wonder dogs!

Is it just me or does everyone wonder what their dog would do in a crisis?

We have a staffy called Bodhi and he’s not the sharpest tool in the shed. He loves us very much and I don’t know what he’d do under pressure.

When Gabe (our 15 year old) was born we had a blue heeler called Indigo Blue (we called her Indi). When we all went for walks, Indi used to run around and around the pram…it was driving me crazy until someone told me she was rounding it up. Keeping safe the precious cargo she knew to be inside.

From the moment Gabe came home from hospital if we lost Indi, we always knew where to find her, faithfully sitting in our bedroom guarding the bassinet.

There’s a great but very sad story out of Sydney this week.

On Monday night, three masked men burst into an elderly man's unit, but they hadn't bargained on Rocky the German shepherd.

Two-year-old Rocky – apparently a only ever guilty of licking a visitor to death in the past - recognised the men as hostile and attacked.

Rocky was sleeping next to his master's bed when the men entered the bedroom. The dog ran at the first attacker, who shot him once in the chest, causing the puppy to stumble.

Undeterred, Rocky attacked again and the same man kicked him and then shot him a second time in the chest and forced him to the ground.

With Rocky bleeding on the floor, the offenders then threatened the elderly owner with the gun before stealing cash and other valuables.

A police spokesperson says Rocky, who also suffered a broken leg, was in a serious but stable condition at a veterinary hospital. Apparently well-wishers had been calling the hospital since the story broke, offering to pay for Rocky's operation.

Like I said, Bodhi isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed, but I’d like to think there is a little Rocky the wonder dog in every puppy!

Thanks Kim!

Is it just me or is everyone chilled to the bone over the alleged nuclear test carried out by North Korea?

Most of us grew up in the shadow of the cold war. From the age of about 9 I would lie awake at night, listening for a nuclear air raid siren. I’m not kidding.

I had a teacher in grade 5, Karl Hennig, who probably gave his students a bit too much information…

I lived on the banks of the Margaret River and during one of our many classroom conversations about the impending nuclear disaster I asked Mr Hennig whether, if I heard a bomb heading for Margaret River (not an obvious target for disgruntled Russians I realise now…but I was nine ok????), whether I should get all my family to run with me down to the river and dive in? Would that help???

Obviously, he should have seen my question as a sign he was FREAKING ME OUT, but he pressed on. Mr Hennig told me that the river option would be more appropriate in the event of a neutron bomb…but unfortunately they weren’t quite perfected yet!

Subsequently I spent the next five years praying for the nuclear arms race to advance to the point that the neutron bomb would become available whoever was in charge at the Kremlin…

Every night of my teenage life I went to bed waiting for the nuclear air raid siren. Every night I formulated an evacuation plan. Lying awake in my bed at boarding school I was determined that when we got the half hour warning, I would make my way toward the city, better to die in the first blast than live through the day after. For a start, I was pretty sure acid rain would play havoc with my complexion…and who knew what a girl should pack for a nuclear winter!!!

But I was genuinely scared. For a ridiculously long time. And I never spoke to my parents about the prospect of nuclear war because bizarrely, I thought I was protecting them. I didn’t want them to be as worried as I was.

And maybe teenagers will always worry about something, nuclear war being the burden of the 80’s teen. And kids of today have got plenty to keep them awake a night too. So I guess I should be grateful to Kim Jong Il for one thing. He has reminded me to talk my kids about what is keeping them awake at night…

I might not be able to promise them world peace but I can guarantee one thing. While they’re in my care they should let me do the worrying. I’ve had much more practice…

Hey Chubs!

Of course the world is Screwy about weight...and if you're worried about your daughter...then here is a guide to help her resist the diet trap...


Boost her self-esteem...

GIRLS with a lot of self-esteem are less likely to hate their bodies. "Don't focus your praise on how your daughter looks," says Susan Ringwood, of the Eating Disorders Association. "Of course you can tell her she's pretty but also emphasise how clever, funny, kind or athletic she is."
And be specific. Say things like, "You told that joke so cleverly. You've got great timing."

TIP: Tell her she's great and let her know she can always talk to you about how she feels. And talk positively about your teenage daughter's changing body. Tell her she is beautiful and that it is very exciting that she is turning into a woman.

Don't go on about your own weight...

SUSIE ORBACH, the psychologist who helped Princess Diana recover from bulimia, says: "It's important to keep our battles with weight and body image away from our daughters."
So no more moaning in front of the mirror about our fat thighs and wobbly tummies and no more saying, "Oh, I'd love a bit of cake, but I shouldn't."

Even young children pick up on it when their mothers hate their bodies, which is why psychotherapist Em Farrell advises mums to talk positively about their own bodies.

TIP: If your daughter says she's fat or ugly, don't just ignore her as she might be testing your reaction. Calmly tell her that she's great as she is and that you love her.

Focus on what her body does, not how it looks..

TEACHING your child to appreciate her body for what it can do rather than what it looks like has been shown to give girls more confidence. Tell her she's a graceful dancer, a fast runner or a strong swimmer.

TIP: Encourage her to take regular exercise and enjoy how it makes her feel rather than how it can improve her looks. Get out as a family on walks, bike rides and trips to the pool.

Don't tell her chocolate is bad..

"IF you say, 'Eat up your broccoli or you won't get pudding' it can teach children that sweet foods are a reward and vegetables a punishment," says Ringwood. "It also turns mealtimes into a battleground."

And you don't need to ban sweets or crisps either.

Research by Pennsylvania State University showed that children aged five to nine who had never been allowed treats were actually more likely to become overweight and binge eat.

"One of the most important things you can teach your children is to eat when they are hungry and stop when they are full," says Orbach.

TIP: Don't have forbidden foods. Just make treats part of a balanced diet not the main event.

And let them find out what it feels like to be full and stop eating - so don't force them to eat when they're not hungry.

Don't be a diet bore...

"Don't talk about people's weight all the time and certainly don't criticise people for gaining a few pounds.

"With my own children, I tell them that a person's worth does not depend on what they weigh. I also ridicule the obsession with skinny celebrities, telling them Victoria Beckham looks awful and ill and instead praising women like Catherine Zeta-Jones who have nice, healthy figures.

"I also point out that men don't prefer very skinny women and that there are a lot of very, very large ladies out there who have attractive husbands."

TIP: Avoid buying her toys like Barbie dolls and, later on, letting her obsess over skinny celebs. Point out that these stars are not only underweight but look very different in real life without stylists having worked on them.

IF YOUR DAUGHTER IS FAT...

Never put your daughter on a diet.

If she really is overweight (get your doctor or health visitor to check) increase the amount of exercise you all do, encourage healthy eating and limit fatty foods and sweets.

Joanne Lees

Is it just me or does everyone think humans are a funny lot?

An extract from Joanne Lees book ‘No turning Back’ has been printed in the Courier Mail today.

Yesterday, the news.com website ran a blog asking people to comment on whether Joanne Lees should profit from her misfortune. The blog was scathing of Ms Lees, suggesting she was somehow cashing in on what happened to her boyfriend.

That astounds me. Not that the media would turn on someone to sell newspapers, no big surprise there, butwhy would the public buy it?

The public has always been a bit sketchy with Joanne Lees. People have described her as mercenary…they've claimed they never liked the look of her, that they thought she was ungrateful for what had been done for her by Australia (huh???) and that she is 'certainly making the most of what happened’

There have also been rushing to her defence. Thank goodness…

I’ve never thought Joanne Lees had anything to do with Peter Falconio’s death. I’ve never doubted a word of her story. And I certainly never cared about the shocking revelation that she had a flirtation with another back packer while going out with Peter…she was 26 years old and on holidays…

I still believe that if she gets a little cash selling her story to an eager public, good luck to her…she probably earned it…

And if you’d like to trade places with her, if you think she is somehow lucky or opportunistic or living on easy street thanks to Bradley John Murdoch, then read her extract today.

Read about driving down a dark lonely road in the outback…and the sudden shock of high beam flooding your combi…of the scary looking man waving you down…the scary looking man who your boyfriend told you not to worry about…’don’t worry he said…he’s only one man…”

I won’t tell you anymore….but if you read it…I don’t think you’ll think Joanne Lees is lucky…