Day Five.....

The UK MailOnline's exciting experiment to inject some colour and movement into the storm ridden lives of the English continues with yet another instalment on the great Brynne & Geoffrey Edelsten saga.

Readers again have posted pithy and accurate comments along the lines of "who" ? although one kinder gent called stantheman has praised Geoffrey  and says :"If my wife or partner looks anything like her when I'm 70,then I'm going to go to heaven a happy man.'
A feature on the dating habits of the daughter of cricketing legend Shane Warne has drawn a blank with readers but another on 2 wireless disc jockeys Kyle and Jackie O (she has no last name apparently)- much beloved of writers on tabloids like the Sydney Morning Herald brings the following : "seriously, who is paying you to promote these Z-list Australian nobodies?"Who on earth cares??"never listened to vyle never have never will'

It's just a matter of time before the hapless Brits are treated to tales of over-exposed radio hack Fifi Box falling pregnant again or going on a diet.

Hair today, not gone tomorrow

In a world of sometimes bewildering change, a reader points to a constant we can grasp onto in order to maintain a sense of permanency : crooner Kamahl's hair.
Luxuriant, thick, black and bouncy, Kamahl's coiffure remains the same from year to year, decade to decade.

Born Kandiah Kamalesvaran, a one-time Rupert Murdoch handyman and gardener, Rolls Royce lover, confidant of the late Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, star of Royal Command Performances and perennial Australian television favourite, : just how has Kamahl's maintained his monumental mop?
Is it some mystical formula from the island of his birth Sri Lanka or an ancient Asian potion picked up in his former Malaysian home?.

 Kamahl, who was forced to change his stage name from Kamal after a MC introduced him as Mr Camel has silenced his critics over the years with his simple and effective trademark quip :"why are people so unkind ?" but he has never lifted the veil on his grooming routine.
Now 79, but looking 20 years younger, and although the miles are etched upon his handsomer face, that beauteous,  bouffant remains intact, cruelly mocking the thinning strands of the decades younger Greg Mathews and Shane Warnes of the world, and their Hey Hey ! hair replacement ads. Just what is Kamahl's secret ?  I think we should be told.

Percy Savage, Melbourne Cup & Green Moon

And so the race that stops a nation (and it does) is over for another year. Celebs are winging their way back to Sydney to stand in front of even more promotional 'PR' boards, different to the ones they stood in front of last week.

Jennifer Hawkins

Delta Goodren

 PR boards are a new and unwelcome addition to the racing season in Melbourne, being introduced in 2008 where a (very large) extra fee is now paid for their use in your marquee. Publicists are convinced they work in promoting a product.

Rose Byrne

It was around 60 years ago that the Red Carpet was basically invented by Australian born publicist Percy Savage who convinced a perfume manufacturer in Rome to roll out a red carpet ala Hollywood and invite movie stars like Elizabeth Taylor to the launch. They did and it was a roaring success and Savage- who Yves St Laurent named eau Sauvage after, went on to become one of Britain and France's most popular and powerful publicists.

Percy Savage

 The Shuttle took afternoon tea with Savage in Chelsea in 2002, and asked him what he thought of the direction in which his undoubted brilliant invention : the celebrity launch in Haute Couture- had gone :"I launched a nightmare" he replied.
 By the weekend we will be well and truly sick of hearing about the Melbourne Cup as thousands of words will be filed by social hacks. Here are a few snaps sent to us by our Cup mole disguised as a well worn fascinator.
We ditched the one of James Packer and Shane Warne : far too obvious and no doubt the Sydney media currently in the grip of Packer's PR war and uncontested bid to build a new multi-million dollar casino at Bangaroo will slavishly do his bidding.

Look Who We Trust!

 Some surprising results from a Readers Digest survey on who Australians find as the most 'trustworthy' souls in the land.

 

Dick Smith

Coming in at Number One is Dr. Charlie Teo (left), the handsome and talented, sometime controversial neurosurgeon. He's followed by the burns specialist Dr Fiona Wood but the next three are pure (sort of) show biz: Hugh Jackman, Mary Donaldson, Crown Princess of Denmark (not bad for a former real estate agent) and entrepreneur Dick Smith.

Father Riley & Eric Bana

Next is the Shuttle's favourite selfless charity worker Father Chris Riley who runs YOTS and at 44 is our equal favourite Catholic priest Father Bob McGuire who was just forcibly retired by the Church but carries on his tasks feeding the homeless and such in Melbourne regardless.

Down the list at 74 is the most trustworthy politician, former PM Kevin Rudd with former Opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull at 76.  Both are way ahead of Tony Abbott and Julia Gillard.

Shane & Kyle

Actors like Deborah Lee Furness, Cate Blanchet and Michael Caton are considered very trustworthy as is the Singing Budgie aka Kylie Minogue at No 30 but who comes in last? : At 99 is Kyle Sandilands behind Rupert Murdoch (surely American?) at 97 and Shane Warne at 74. Wacky mining magnate Clive Palmer who is building a replica Titanic in China is No 92.

And more popular than any business mogul or politician? Why The Wiggles of course at 15!

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Current Ecuador Embassy resident Julian Assange, listed as Editor-In-Chief of Wikileaks is regarded as the 75th Most trusted Australian. Here is Julian recently interviewing Noam Chomsky and writer Tariq Ali :

New York Update

How he does it is a mystery. We are talking about uber social photographer Patrick McMullan who rules the roost in the Big Apple.
If Patrick isn't at your party (or at least one of his snappers) you can write the evening off.

Operating out of a Fifth Avenue apartment near Washington Square he sets off each evening with a fist full of invites, returning in the early hours.
He's published six top selling books now of his photographs that feature in publications like Interview, Ocean Drive, Vogue, Harper's Bazaar and magazines and newspapers around the world. He's an associate editor on Vanity Fair. The books  have titles like Kiss Kiss, Secrets of The Riviera, Men's Show and Glamour Girls. The titles are self explanatory.

This week he hosted a book signing for Kiss Kiss to benefit the Coalition for the Homeless, in Huntington, Long Island.

You get his books at his website and see some of the latest happenings in New York as recorded by Patrick or one of his ten photographers that fan out across the metropolis nightly.



# At the New York Mercedes Fashion Week : Shane Warne with  Liz Hurley and her son Damien attended the Moncler show last night

Shane, Elizabeth, Cate and Sarah-Jessica

Cate in 2010

It's no secret about the vast a screen goddess like Cate Blanchett can command for appearing at a cocktail party-namely up to $250,000.

The Shuttle has been to at least three events in the past year where Ms Blanchett has appeared and one just a month ago attended by hubby Andrew Upton-the Sydney Theatre Awards although it's believed Upton will turn up sans fee to support anything that promotes live theatre.

With the missus pulling in three quarters of a million dollars for just three parties no wonder he is so generous with his time.

 But it's the 'conditions' attached to Cate's appearance that brings a wry smile, namely that speaking to the media is verboten. And who can blame the woman?

At the 2010 Sydney Theatre Awards Cate was far more relaxed, dropping any perceived attitude and chatted to lowly hacks ( like the Shuttle) in the bar after the awards and even summonsed a $20 note from no-where to purchase a round of drinks

 Blanchett has grown more imperial as her status as one the world's greatest actress’s proceeds unhindered and if the scene we witnessed at the 'Australian Oscars' two weeks ago-the ACCTAS is anything to go by, no-one could blame her for snubbing what passes for some in the meejah these days.

Only slightly penned in as the assembled hacks were that evening, the AACTA publicist had helpfully provided a print-out of every star attending and the name of the designer of that person's gown including Blanchett’s thrilling gold Alexander McQueen creation (pictured).

 That wasn't going to prevent an over-excited tee vee presenter from her moment of glory as she rushed forward, thrust a microphone in front of Cate's perfect face and asked "what are you wearing?

 A momentary and frosty silence followed and then the retort- "clothes!" emanated from Ms Blanchet as she left the crestfallen hackette trembling in her wake

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Our spy disguised as a weary fashion victim attended the first major party to kick off New York Fashion Week,  the amfAR To Kick Off Fashion Week gala hosted by Sarah Jessica Parker and reports word was buzzing amongst the assembled media as to who was the new bloke on the arm of actress Elizabeth Hurley, as our picture shows.

They were of course referring to Aussie cricket legend and hair replacement proponent Shane Warne who has proposed to la Hurley and who apparently, is not known in the USA.



All that has now changed of course although our informant says many of the photographers were still mystified upon being informed of the legendary status of the greatest spin bowler in history, as to why anyone would show interest in the 'game' of cricket.
Such sacrilege !.

Artemis,Packer, Picasso and Obama

Shanthini Naidoo & Ros Packer at the Picasso show

She was at the Art Gallery of NSW last Friday taking in the Picasso exhibition- Ros Packer, the widow of the late media mogul Kerry Packer who passed away in 2008. On the same day a remarkable sculpture was being loaded on a ship bound for Australia where it will arrive on December 27^th.

A report has emerged claiming Ros may have been the purchaser of the giant bronze sculpture by British artist Nic Fiddian-Green which has recently been on display at Goodwood Racecourse.

Titled Artemis after the Greek god, its name has now reverted to the original name given it by the artist: ‘I Look Beyond for a Distant Land’.

The Midhurst & Petworth Observer newspaper says the 40ft high piece is on its way to Australia where it has been “bought by the widow of an Australian media mogul who had strong links with the equine world. She has collected work by Mr Fiddian-Green for the past 15 years.”

Kerry’s grave is at his beloved property Ellerston in the Hunter Valley where there is already some of the artist’s work and it's believed the sculpture will overlook his resting place.

Artemis

Nic Fiddian-Green

Son James Packer who inherited Kerry’s $6B fortune and was recently entertaining Tiger Woods, Shane Warne and Elizabeth Hurley at his Crown Casino in Melbourne has undertaken extensive renovations at Ellerston including installing a new Olympic size swimming pool, upgrading the private Polo field , building several guest cottages and landscaping the gardens.

Meanwhile Ros Packer will be in Canberra today to attend a reception for the US president Barack Obama.

Get A Glimpse Of Joan Here

Joan at Flemington

Do not fret-the Chloe & Kim Kardashian charabanc may have fled town after turning down the $150,000  fee for an appearance at the Melbourne's Spring Carnival for Swisse , but Joan Collins now has a Sydney show as part of her one woman bandwagon. The Shuttle's Kardashian spy disguised as an over-priced handbag says their agent ordered Kim to return asap to LA to cash-in field offers from major US networks to discuss her collapsed publicity stunt marriage.

Warnie & Hurley at Ladies Day

Joan was at the Ladies Day at Flemington yesterday looking as glamorous as she ever did in Dynasty, hard as that may be, and her outfit could definitely have come straight from the 80's series.

There are still tickets available for
A Night With Joan at the State Theatre on Monday evening, 7th November but be quick. They are going fast. Book at Ticketmaster.

below is a promo clip from A Night With Joan with such memorable lines as
"a woman who would reveal her age would reveal anything"!

Melbourne Cup Hat Of The Day

In the end, it looked like the QANTAS debacle was a bonus for Sydney with every pub, bar, restaurant, hotel ballroom, park and garden packed with hundreds of people celebrating the Melbourne Cup.

John Ibrahim & Chelsea Mitchell

Charlotte Dawson & pals

There were parties everywhere one looked.

A few of the smartest : the  Moët & Chandon party at the W Hotel hosted by TV personality Charlotte Dawson with a room full of good looking young punters including Liberty & Somer Watson from Coco Ribbon in London's Notting Hill Gate plus some fine food and plenty of champers.

The Chandon luncheon in Centennial Park with social heavyweights like Glen Marie Frost, Deeta Colvin, Melissa Hoyer and Victoria Morish and top party designer James Gordon.

Sharon Sargeant & Frank Monte

Liberty & Somer Watson, Alison Barton-Chen

The Finger Wharf, which the W Hotel forms part of, had a dozen parties with every restaurant packed to the rafters, with the very swish Otto's booked out weeks beforehand.

Cup cakes at the W

Radio king John Laws was there with wife Caroline and Malcolm Coppleson , Frank Monte with party girl Sharon Sargeant and keeping a low profile, nightclub tsar John Ibrahim with his girlfriend Chelsea hosting a table with about a dozen friends.




At the Cup itself at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne , international stars were few on the ground.
Shane Warne and Elizabeth Hurley failed to show nor did Joan Collins. Kim Kardashian is in Sydney for a party tonight (pursued by the world's media)

The W Hotel

But they will be there on Oak's Day (Thursday) which is far more genteel and fashionable, along with Sarah Jessica Parker who flew in to Melbourne on Monday but lunched at the Chandon's Greenpoint Brasserie in the Yarra Valley. The only star of note at the Cup-actor Adrian Grenier.


And amongst the wild and wacky costumes that appear on Cup day-the prize goes to multi-millionaire self promoter Dick Smith for his simple but effective Dick Smith's Ozemite hat !. That's Dick's political statement on his annoyance that the iconic Aussie spread Vegemite has been snapped up by a foreign corporation and a clever plug for the new spread he is marketing.

Your Melbourne Cup Form Guide

It's come a long way since Jean Shrimpton-The Shrimp- shocked and outraged and positively delighted the crowds at Flemington in Melbourne in 1965 and established once and for all time, The Mini Skirt was here to stay ( it looks so tame today).

Today as a few hundred thousand racegoers descend upon Flemington racecourse for the Melbourne Cup we've provided a handy form guide for the fillies and their jockeys to look out for in the Birdcage, Member's Stand and the private marquees (hover around the Emirates for the real action)

Starting with the richest :
Billionaire James Packer and wife Erica (be nice to them and they may invite you back to James' private bar at the Crown Casino for their karaoke night) and Richard Branson.
Celeb receiving the most for showing up (about 200 grand) Sarah Jessica Parker.

Lovebirds Shane Warne and Elizabeth Hurley. Burlesque queen Dita Von Teese, Kim Kardashian  Rebecca Judd and the real star of the day who should not missed (easy to do as she's so tiny) Joan Collins. And there is bound to be a few surprises like Leo DiCaprio and Tobey McGuire

Mumm champagne, Moet & Chandon, Bollinger will all be hosting marquees and in "Millionaire's Row", the Emirates marquee is styled on St Petersburg's Catherine Palace with the Zhivago restaurant and powder room for ladies, and a Jo Malone perfume stylist demonstrating how to "accessorise" with 23 fragrances.

 Myer's have their "Butterfly House" with Jennifer Hawkins complete with  fluttering laser-cut butterflies, as the PR sheet wittily says..'to show off the social butterflies". 

Garden guru Jamie Durie has flown back from the USA where he hosts a cable TV show to create a "vertical garden installation" in a three-level marquee and VIPs will  be chauffeured to and from the track in luxury Lexus vehicles.

Irreverent / Irrelevant Facts : The first Melbourne Cup in 1861 was filmed and this was the very first  movie to be screened commercially.

The first prize in 1861 for owners of the winning horse-a nice watch while today's prize purse will be $3.5M. The Shuttle's favourite horse name of all time : Whykickamoocow.

Will Shane Warne Succeed where Gordon Ramsay Failed ?

Sad news today and a further blow for embattled restaurateur Gordon Ramsay as he announces that his Melbourne restaurant- maze Grill at the Metropole Hotel-part of James Packer's ritzy Crown Casino, is put into liquidation.

Despite the gleaming new restaurant receiving excellent reviews and a reported turnover of nearly $14M in the one year it was open, it was loosing money and becoming a drain on Ramsay's declining restaurant empire.

Melbourne's maze Grill

The Crown Casino by the Yarra River is the largest in the Southern Hemisphere and one of the biggest in the world. With 3 hotel tower blocks including the Metrople, endless fast food outlets and a string of 5 star restaurants , luxury stores,cinemas, theatres, a ballroom and a convention centre it is one of the most opulent gaming establishments on the planet.

Stars like Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes and Tiger Woods  have called it home while in Melbourne on extended visits.
Fine dining restaurants at Crown that are going gangbusters include the Japanese Nobu part owned by actor Robert de Niro (who officially launched Nobu in 2007) and  Bistro Guillaume owned by French chef Guillaume Brahimi who also owns Bennelong at the Sydney Opera House. In both establishments it often takes weeks to book a table.

Diana at the Commonwealth Day lunch with Samantha Riley

But if Ramsay couldn't make a go of it , will our newly minted Metrosexual Shane Warne do any better?

rough trade?

It's been reported in today's Sydney Morning Herald that Warnie will be attending this year's Melbourne Cup (with Liz Hurley) and will be opening a night club at Crown.
Warnie's new sophisticated image has come some way since the Shuttle sat with him at a Commonwealth Day lunch for Princess Diana in Sydney in 1996.

When we asked if he was a friend of Diana's Shane replied "no, I haven't met her yet" (she was at the next table). Asked if he thought she may be a cricket fan he said "not sure-but I think she likes rough trade !"

Sir David Frost on Julian Assange and Robert Kennedy

 David Frost spoke today of the most impressive person he had ever interviewed in his long career: The former US Senator Robert Kennedy who was assassinated in 1968 .

Robert Kennedy

"He was forthright, honest and had a keen intellect, one of the most truthful people I have ever interviewed" said Frost at a press conference he gave today in Sydney with the former British talk show host Michael Parkinson.

Parky & Frost

The pair are doing 2 shows at the Sydney Theatre this week where they interview each other and reveal some candid moments  interviewing some of the most famous people during their respective careers.

Both said Nelson Mandela was a interview subject they had both greatly admired. Frost who has concentrated on world leaders said that he found former Australian prime minister Gough Whitlam to be a "towering intellect, possibly the most intellectual politician"' while Parkinson said that both he and Frost were fond of cricketer Shane Warne who he described as "a life enhancing force".

Of all the people he had loathed David Frost described the former head of the Hitler Youth League
Baldur von Schirach who served 20 years in prison for crimes against humanity as a "particular loathsome person".

von Schirach "loathsome"

"He had absolutely no regrets about his time as a Nazi and I shivered after the interview when he put his hand on my arm and with a twinkle in his eye said 'at 23 you were in charge of your own television show and at 23 I was in charge of the Hitler Youth-you see we really aren't so different! ' "

On Julian Assange who Frost has just interviewed and Wikileaks he said: "I was expecting a fairly soul-less person but I was pleasantly surprised and liked him by the end of the interview".

Asked what he thought about Assange's release of secret cables Frost said:
"it hasn't been proved that anyone has been harmed by them and they have exposed serious crimes. It's the sort of thing journalists should be doing".

Parkinson and Frost said that research and preparation was the most important aspect of interviewing any person with Parkinson giving the ABC interviewer Andrew Denton as a great example of a young interviewer of today who gets the most out of his subject.

And they weren't giving much away about what their two man show will be about :
"I'm still working out things to ask Michael "said Frost."In fact this press conference has given me some new ideas".
"I think David will turn out to be my favourite interview subject of all time " responded Parkinson.

To book for Parky And Frost. Two Nights Only Tues 8th Feb & Wed 9th Feb go to this website.

Here is David Frost and part of his famous interview with Richard Nixon: