Snapped

TV presenter Sam Armytage has been tweeting about the dreaded paparazzi hounding her at Bondi Beach. To nip them in the bud she posted this snap on Instagram. And who is the chap Sam is getting up close and personal with on the far right ?. it's designer Jonathan Ward who has been responsible for the successful revival of the iconic Aussie brand R.M.Williams.

The annual Fag Hag 2018 bash went off with masses of wigs and hairspray at The Star Sydney as a lead-up to the Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras (pics by Belinda Rolland)

The Bay Soiree at the Watson's Bay Boutique Hotel raised funds for the Victor Chang Institute (launched in 1995 by the late Princess Diana as her last public charity event). Artistic duo Charles & Krista Billich (left) attended 
(pics by Belinda Rolland)

And last but not least: our snaps from the sensational Inaugural Grammy Awards party hosted by Steven Tyler in Los Angeles to raise funds (nearly $2M !) for Janie's Fund which assists young girls from across America who have suffered from trauma and abuse. Our own Ruby Rose was there along with..some Kardashians (it's not a party without a Kardashian) Alice Cooper with Sharon Stone while Tyler performed.

Happy Christmas to our loyal readers

We get around 2500 regular readers from all over the world every day plus a whole more visiting. This sorta sums up Christmas Day in Sydney. It has everything : sand, a beach, cocktails, Bondi, drag queens, sundshine and a few social identities in that crowd.

For our US readers

we get around 1000 per day:


## an amazing reaction to our report on Sam Neill's put down of the local licensing laws that seem to be decimating Sydney's night life. Many views came from Europe & the US. What does this mean for tourism?. Also perhaps the entire population of the Southern Highlands has now read up on the local dramas there.

Carlotta premieres tonight

Starting tonight on ABC TV : Carlotta, the bio-pic about Australia's first (well the most famous) sex change Carlotta who starred at Kings Cross famous Les Girls for many years.

An Opening- Xmas Gifts

Haighes at the QVB

Haighs Chocolates, Adelaide's gift to the world's sweet tooth opened a new store in the magnificent Queen Victoria Building last night, just in time for Christmas.
Since the collapse of the Darrel Lea family chocolate empire. the Haigh family really has the industry sown up. With decades of Swiss trained family members, last night they offered up champagne to wash down treats like peppermint creams, dark ginger , assorted fruit liqueurs and sumptuous truffles. Go to their website to find your nearest store-they're all around the country.

Divine by Leee Black Childers

      Leee Black Childers (left) launched his new book in London last night at an exhibition.  He relates a tale in an interview in the UK Standard newspaper of a Christmas bash we attended  in London, at which another guest was the late Sid Vicious.
Childer's launched his exhibiton of snaps at the The Vinyl Factory & The Society Club  London. It's called Drag Queens, Rent Boys, Pickpockets, Junkies, Rockstars and Punks.
                                                                                              

For the more classical minded perhaps the new album by pianist virtuoso Simon  Tedesihi is the perfect gift (we attended his very first recital when he was a tender 13 years old).

 Titled Gershwin & Me it's available at ABC Music.





 Below is some Bach by Tedeshi :