a tricky mess for Charlie's pals

It wasn't too long ago that HRH Prince Charles toured the amazing suburb created by the Rose family at Breakfast Point and declared in reply to a Shuttler's question that it was "one of the finest modern developments he had ever seen"-high praise for a man known for his great love of the preservation of old buildings.

Indeed, it was an amazing coup for the well liked and very social Bob & Margaret Rose to even get the visiting British Royal  along for the afternoon that included a long hike through the development's streets, visits to a few houses and finally a reception in the the  'town hall' on the village green.

 Margaret & Bob Rose with HRH Prince Charles (C)

Now the Rose Group is facing a major obstacle in it's long planned re-development of the sleepy seaside hamlet Catherine Hill Bay and another planned 187 houses on Lake Macquarie after  

Justice David Lloyd of the Land and Environment Court handed down a judgment nipping the whole scheme in the bud and labeling the concept a "land bribe" with reports linking it to Labor Party donations from the corporation-despite them donating to all political parties evenly. Not only is this a blow to the Rose Group it seems certain to have a carry-on affect for other developers.

                                                        Breakfast Point's village green

Certainly many will praise the decision including the Catherine Hill Bay Progress Association who are ecstatic no others will share their fairly peace-full lives but it's an odd decision in a court known to be 'developer friendly' which has allowed some truly horror developments through to blight the landscape, most especially in Sydney with it's woeful record of modern architecture (Opera House excluded of course). 

Yet the Rose family have received numerous awards and praise for some of the most sensational large scale, environmentally friendly developments around the state including the highly successful Olympic Village built for the 2000 games and hailed by then Olympic president Juan Antonio Samaranch as the "best ever !" in the history of the games.

Although Bob & Margaret are secure in their sublime Point Piper mansion and glorious Palm Beach weekender with it's commanding views over the peninsular, they must be wondering just went wrong.


                                            **************************

##  Never were truer words said than those of the late British PM  Harold Wilson who once declared  "7 days is a long time in politics" .  Within days of speculation that NSW premier Nathan Rees may be rolled, 2 contenders for the job have hit the skids including Frank Sartor who was criticized in the Rose Group court judgement (see above)for his days as planning minister . Now state health minister John Della Bosca has resigned this morning after revelations of an affair with a 26 year old secretary. 

The Shuttle confidently predicts that within 2 months the new state premier will be 40 year old American born Kristina Keneally. Whilst Labor dominates Federally with PM Kevin Rudd's popularity soaring to such heights he remains the most popular leader ever, Keneally, neice of the Oscar winning writer Tom Keneally ('Schindler's List")  has risen quickly through the political ranks impressing all who meet her and would be a much needed shot in the arm for the ailing state party. 

Meanwhile Della Bosca's career will be far from over. As a political heavyweight he wields considerable power both statewide and federally with wife , federal MP Belinda Neal. Della Bosca and Neal easily survived the so-called "Iguanagate" scandal when both were accused of insulting waiters in a coastal nightclub after drinks last year. Despite PM Kevin Rudd taking Neal aside for a quick chat with a recommendation she seek 'anger management ' skills, her star continues to rise. Expect Della Bosca to be back within a heartbeat.

"Stella...!"

Tuesday night brings the opening of the much anticipated Sydney Theatre Company's production of A Streetcar Named Desire starring Cate Blanchett and directed by cinema great Liv Ullmann. 

Ullmann , although nominated for Oscars, Baftas and Cannes film  awards has yet to win but has reaped a whole lot of other awards for her film and stage work as well as being a Cannes Film judge .

According to Ullmann, she was frustrated by the Norwegian Film Fund in 2006 in her ambition to film  Ibsen's play "A Doll's House"in which she hoped to cast either Blanchett or Kate Winslet.

Now with Cate Blanchett, a Hollywood heavyweight and heading the STC for a year, Ullmann was commissioned by Cate to produce and direct Streetcar. With Blanchett as Blanche Du Bois opposite Joel Edgerton's  Stanley Kowalski this also could be the much needed break Edgerton needs to crack the US market when the play moves to New York in November.

Edgerton narrowly missed out on the role taken by Aussie actor Sam Worthington in Avatar which is bound to bring Worthington instant stardom. Edgerton has auditioned for several Hollywood roles but has yet to be cast despite appearing in the Star War's trilogy and carrying heavy endorsements from producer/director George Lucas.

The Shuttle also recently encountered Cate Blanchett a fortnight ago at the launch of Audi's new multi-million dollar showrooms in Zetland. Asked if she was an Audi driver , Cate declined to confirm but did say she was still very fond of zipping about town in an eco-friendly Toyota Prius.

Hoges land back on the market

Just 4 years after eccentric British banker Duncan Mount and wife, ex-model Sally purchased the Possum Creek property built by Paul Hogan and wife Linda just outside the resort of Byron Bay on the NSW coast, Mount is selling off parcels of the gorgeous landscaped grounds with  their rolling hills to finance a move back to the Sydney social scene.

                                                           Duncan Mount

                                                      Possum Creek                               

Mount made mega millions in China with his Hong Kong Bicycle Co before moving to Sydney and buying the 1920's Spanish styled harbour-side mansion, Boomerang-built by the wealthy Alberts music publishing family. Duncan spent a small fortune re-furbishing Boomerang which was used in the film  Mission Impossible 2 and threw lavish parties before selling up 5 years ago to build an equestrian centre on the Northern Beaches for horse mad Sally.

Hogan himself made a tidy profit on the Point Piper house he purchased a few years ago and sold last year  after spending little time there, preferring to hang out in his Hollywood Hills abode while he fights his endless battles with the Australian Taxation Office. Boomerang was bought by trucking magnate Lindsay Fox in 2005 for $21M from cleaning company boss John Schaeffer who purchased it for then wife Julie who fell in love with it after attending one of the Mount's amazing parties. 

Julie  continued the Mount's tradition, hosting her first soiree for Denmark's Crown Princess Mary and Prince Frederick on their first visit to Australia following their toy-town style wedding.

                                                                                                                          Boomerang

Aussie US invasion continues

With Hugh Jackman having conquered both New York in the "Boy From Oz' and now Hollywood with his blockbuster Wolverine and actor Sam Worthingtom well on the road to become a new movie heartthrob in James Cameron's 3D epic Avatar, news comes of another Australian hitting the heights in New York.

26 year old Amelia Lester has appeared virtually overnight in the publishing world to take the helm as publishing editor of one of the world's most prestigious magazines-The New Yorker.

Little is known of Lester-well she's too young for one, but she has only been in New York for 4 years after graduating from Harvard. Lester did a stint at the Paris Review and then served as a fact checker for noted Yorker writers like Seymour Hersh and Jane Meyer as well as writing the occassional piece for the mag.

However she must have impressed hard-nosed David Remick of  Conde Nast. She will be one of the youngest editors on one the most respected US magazines with a highly coverted position.

## an eagle eyed Shuttler contacted me to illuminate me further on the very clever Amelia Lester.  Amelia was a student at the state run North Sydney Girl's High School as recently as  2001 and regarded as one of the brightest sparks. She also did a stint at Vogue before heading off to Harvard. She's certainly a great advert for the much derided state run schools.

..always keep a diary

One noted guest amongst the glitterati like tiny singer Leo Sayer, bon vivant & style meister Leo Scholfield and Lord Mayor Clover Moore at last night's re-opening party for the glorious Queen Victoria Building with it's $45M re-vamp was former Town Clerk Leon Carter. Carter, a Scottish baron , was Town Clerk under 11 Lord Mayor's and keeper of the city secrets.

Recently uncovered by builders in the Town Hall ceiling-just across the road from the QVB-was the legendary "shooting gallery", long rumoured to be there but only just re-discovered in a remote corner of that vast building.

The shooting gallery dated back to WW2 and when Sydney was often described as the "Chicago of the South Pacific". No, not because it was windy-mainly because it was run by bent cops in co-ordination with criminal gangs. It was decided it would be prudent that town hall workers be armed and skilled in shooting, hence the shooting gallery.

Carter, who has seen off more Lord Mayor's than memory can handle also has a reputation as a no-nonsense official. One town hall worker who preferred to remain anonymous related how Leon "sensibly kept a pistol and a little black book in his desk drawer. No-one knew which was more dangerous !"

Leon also revealed the history of the word 'camp'-the word once used in Sydney and Melbourne to describe gays (the existence of lesbians as usual, being completely ignored). It began in the former colony's convict days when women were scarce and young lads turned to other activities to make a buck or two. When arrested for prostitution in the city known throughout the South Pacific for it's male bordellos, an offender would have his record stamped by police with the initials KAMP-"known as male prostitute" !. And you thought it was all about wearing hideous feather boas and miming to Babra Streisand songs !

People like us...

" catch me if you can.": Serhani sends a postcard from the edge.

One top PR firm with offices in Sydney and Melbourne begged the Shuttle not to mention it's name after the tale came out of the "Saudi Prince" they had help promote briefly. They too are clutching a handful of unpaid invoices after Frenchman Abdelkarim Serhani slipped out of Australia and is claiming to be in New Zealand. Yeh, sure.

Serhani, 28 left reputedly owing the luxury resort Hamilton Island in QLD $42,000 of unpaid hotel bills and that included $20,000 on champagne. Not to mention the 2 bottles of Dom Perignon which he walked out of an Airlie Beach bottle shop clutching when the manager was distracted by a phone call. But perhaps he was just absent-minded.

Serhani initially left by helicopter to the mainland, was briefly detained but released after successfully fooling locals he was a "Saudi prince' complete with bodyguards. Those bodyguards, from a local security firm are also keen to speak to the 26 year old Frenchman described as "cool, immaculately dressed, well mannered and with an air of flamboyance".

Browned-off Aussies can relax. They aren't the only ones to be taken in as the Belgian newspaper La Derniere Heure reported earlier this year that a local hotel had supplied him with beautiful women, a Ferrari, a limousine and six days' worth of champagne. Look to your local phone book for Interpol's number.

vale Dominick Dunne

Sometimes described as "George Burns without the twinkle"or " Truman Capote without the talent',he was famous for covering the trials of the famous and those in high society that did wrong-now writer Dominick Dunne has died of cancer. Dunne's daily coverage of trials for Vanity Fair became required reader as he presented the behind the scenes shenanigans of lawyers and prosecutors giving an unique insight often missed in main stream news reports.

Dunne who described himself as "a high-class Zelig," was 83. Some of the trials he covered:the Claus von Bulow, William Kennedy Smith, the Menendez brothers, O.J. Simpson and Phil Spector murder trials became fascinating reading with the Dunne treatment.

Dunne turned to covering murder trials after becoming outraged by the murder of his own daughter 22-year-old Dominique Dunne, in 1982 by her ex-boyfriend John Sweeney who spent 30 months in prison.

Dunne could be a controversial figure-popular with New York high society but loathed by some of the most powerful families like the Kennedys. He was accused at times of pedalling gossip without the full facts and had a falling out with Vanity Fair during the later years over a tale about US politician Gary Condit and the missing intern Chandra Levy, believed murdered. Amongst Dunne's best selling books- "People Like Us". He is survived by his son, film director and actor Dominick Dunne Jnr.

no names, no pack-drill

It's so heartening to hear others are just mere mortals like you and I.....

# which mega-millionaire has just bought off an off-spring from a liason with a 'lady of the night' after previously denying their existence but was caught out after blood tests proves that he was indeed the father ?. His property empire now remains safe for official heirs after several millions$$ were placed in trust for the 23 year old who is cutting a swathe around town with his new found wealth...


## which prominent former 'civic' name was recently 'busted' in Kings Cross in an alley-way receiving mouth relief from a transvestite (and a rather plain one at that) in the early afternoon ?. As this noted personage owns at least 2 nearby apartments used purely for such liasons-is he now taking his thrill of encounters with cross-dressing tarts to unheard off heights ?

### which 'man about town' with a decidedly dodgy past has been wining and dining a prominent South Pacific islands' government' figure in a number of Sydney restaurants on behalf of a corporation who hope to cash in on natural resources located on the otherwise barren atoll ?. Trips to New York and London in the company jet and 5 star hotel accommodation along with the obligatory Swiss bank account are of course entirely unconnected.

the mind boggles.....

the Quay comes tops

The Quay and chef Peter Gilmour

Just days after Shuttlers enjoyed the hors d'oeuvres at the opening of the Victor Churchill Butcher Shop , the caterer and chef Peter Gilmour proudly accepted an award for The Quay as Australia's restaurant of the year presented by those who know -Australian Gourmet Traveller. The Quay faced stiff competition especially from Tetsuya-already rated in the world's 10 top eateries and a favourite of David Bowie who thinks nothing of flying into Sydney whenever in the Southern Hemisphere just to dine there.

Peter's contemporaries who joined in the celebrations at Qantas caterer Neil Perry's
Rockpool included Matt Moran & Luke Mangan
( Princess Mary of Denmark's favourite chef)

just don't mention the cricket

Grant Dwyer & Rachel Finch

It's almost like a national shaming as the head of cricketer Ricky Ponting is demanded over the Ashes loss but one Aussie beat the UK in one respect. Rachel Finch may have come fourth in the Miss Universe contest with the 18 year old Stefania Fernandez from Venezuela carrying off the crown, but she did come in ahead of the UK entrant. But there should be no disappointment for Rachel. Coming in the magic 5 top numbers means she can look forward to an amazing amount of money-spinning endorsements according to manager and model agent Grant Dwyer. Dwyer is already fielding a staggering $10M in offers within just a few hours following the decision.

Jimmy Barnes goes kosher

Jimmy & Jane Barnes (copyright :the Shuttle)

It was an odd get-together at the Central Synagogue in Sydney. Working Class Man hero , Scot's born rocker and practising Buddhist Jimmy Barnes had news for the assembled audience who had turned up to see Barnsie sing Hava Nagila after being approached out of the blue by Rabbi Mendel Kastel who had the brilliant idea of Jimmy giving a benefit performance.

Barnes recalled his mother had given him a Star of David as a youth and many years later asked her why. "So you remember your family roots" was the reply as Jimmy recalled his grandmother's name was Esther as he confirmed what he had only recently discovered-he was Jewish.

"Except for a certain snip" quipped Barnes to a delighted audience.

Rabbi Katsel runs Jewish House, a centre for the homeless and people with alcohol and drug addiction and the performance deal followed a chance encounter in a Bondi restaurant where Barnes and party were seated at a nearby table to Rabbi Katsel who was dining with the chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv when both tables struck up a conversation.

Barnes and his crooner son David Campbell who has wowed New York audiences will also perform at a benefit for the centre at the Sofitel Wentworth Hotel on December 1st. Meanwhile, at the Synagogue Barnies gave a unique rendition of My Yiddish Mother followed by What a Wonderful World.

Murdoch paper crashes

Rupert Murdoch was in town this year for the Frank Lowy tribute dinner and demonstrated his 'funny old man walk' to the delight of wife Wendi. (copyright the Shuttle)

The UK's most controversial blogger Madame Arcati is revelling in the news that another of her predictions has come to pass- the closure of the TheLondonPaper, a News Corp give-away tabloid that is about to close after Rupert Murdoch pulled it's funding.

Arcati was furious over the paper's 'ageist' policies where 'bright young things' replace older but seasoned hacks who know the rounds. It's common practice in most newspapers now with the majority of writers on 2 or 3 year contracts as old-timers retire. The days of secure employment are well and truly over in the publishing world.

TheLondonPaper is a less lightweight version of Mx, the thin freebie that is thrust into passenger's hands at Sydney & Melbourne subway stations by bright-eyed young backpackers from Germany & Sweden on temporary work visas.

Murdoch opened Mx after Fairfax Newspapers announced plans to launch their own afternoon give-away tabloids to compliment their hugely popular Sydney Morning Herald and Melbourne's The Age.

When News Corp announced they would launch a competitor, Fairfax backed off only to have Murdoch go ahead and launch Mx anyway a short time later.

The problem is of course, Mx competes directly with Murdoch's most popular Australian titles , the Daily Telegraph and the Herald Sun and has started to bite into their markets. Why fork out cash for the Daily Terror when Mx offers shortened versions of the same tales for free ?.

(disclosure : in the interests of fairness we should point out that the Shuttle had been lined up for a major position on the Fairfax give-aways which evaporated with it's non-publication.  We were well pissed off ! )

Christian roaring on...

Bourke & Rendell
(copyright the Shuttle)


It was one of the greatest examples (only outdone by Susan Boyle) of how life can change overnight when youtube's 35 year old vision of 2 young blokes greeting a former pet lion in Africa received a few million hits and catapulted the 2 men into overnight stardom with a best selling book titled Christian the Lion , netting the authors a small fortune.

Now the caravan rolls on as one of the authors, former UK gossip writer John Rendell is resting back in his World's End digs in Chelsea before preparing to take on China for a major lecture tour about African wildlife.

Let's hope he doesn't get some of the more curly and embarrassing questions whilst in Beijing like that on the top US show The View when one presenter asked Rendall and co-author Ace Bourke "and how is Christian faring these days?". "Err.." they replied, "lions only have a life of around 9/10 years"- Christian would have probably gone to feline heaven around the early 1980's.

Jamie gets mad

One of the most visibly upset mourners at Johnny Baker's funeral on Friday was his close friend Skye Leckie, tireless charity worker and all round nice girl. Not only had Skye lost a great pal, she had personally organized all the funeral proceedings.

Now husband and Channel 7 supremo David Leckie has a major headache-how to sooth the troubled brows of his network's major talent, the diminutive but perfectly formed ex-Manpower dancer turned gardening guru, Jame Durie.

Durie is furious that gossip mag New Idea (referred to as No Idea by some publishing wags) printed a tale that he had been 'dumped' by Oprah Winfrey after winning hearts and minds when Jamie first appeared on Oprah's show 2 years ago to give gardening hints and went on to become a regular guest.

"Not true" said an upset Durie and an Oprah spokesman backed him up when the Shuttle managed to get through by Skype-saying that despite Jamie filming a series of his Outdoor Room for US cable TV, he and Oprah still maintain a warm relationship. It's high priced lawyers at ten paces which puts Leckie in a difficult position-one of his top money spinners is suing a publication owned by Pacific Publications which in turn is owned by Leckie's boss, Channel 7 owner and billionaire Kerry Stokes.

New Idea only recently apologised to tennis ace Leyton Hewitt and wife Bec over a mistaken tale that linked Bec with a mysterious man who turned out to be her minder. Bec is still considering whether she will take the matter further.

Where this dispute will end no-one knows, but it's just 4 weeks since the Shuttle attended the launch of Durie's new range of garden furniture in his Patio range at the re-vamped Beresford Hotel just off Oxford Street's gay strip in Darlinghurst and while sharing a champers with owner Ashog and Durie, a call came through from the Great One herself. Yes. Oprah had negotiated time zones to place a congratulating personal call to Jamie.

                                       lawyers at 10 paces..OK..they're really Jamie Durie's garden gnomes

Johnny Baker signs off

Bakes

It was a send-off Johnny Baker would have loved-particularly as he planned most of it before he passed away, nipping in the bud a small funeral followed by a large memorial weeks later on the quite reasonable grounds he wouldn't be around to attend it. Held at St Joseph's in Sydney where Baker had attended mass every morning he was in town.

A billionaire or 2, plenty from the big end of town , football players and a touch of Hollywood. The perfect 'Bakes' get-together that included many of the ladies Johnny had accompanied to endless shindigs with Ros Packer, Jane Ferguson , Ainslie Gotto, Lady Arwill, film producer Rebel Penfold Russell and Lady Sonia McMahon who was accompanied by her actor son, 'Nip Tuck' star Julian McMahon.

Lady Sonia & Julian McMahon (copyright the Shuttle)
Penne Peacock (copyright the Shuttle)

Former Texas beauty queen Penne Peacock , best pal of Laura Bush flew in for the funeral. The Duchess of Cornwall sent flowers. Tears were followed by laughter when the mega-rich Paul Ramsay told a series of anecdotes of he and Bake's world tours that started off with a chance meeting 30 years ago when Johnny said-"you've got the cash, I've got the friends, we should holiday together". And so they did 2 or 3 times a year for the next 3 decades.

It can't be said much better than Mark McGinness's excellent obituary in the Sydney Morning Herald : Discreet charms of a man about town

Rachael firms up in first spot

Model agent Grant Dwyer with some of his discoveries including Jennifer Hawkins (centre)

Within minutes of the Shuttle hitting the blogosphere a missive arrives from the Miss Universe camp in New York.

Aussie entrant Rachael Finch is indeed shaping up to be the favourite according to one of the UK's biggest betting agencies Paddy Power who reckon some of their most astute punters are putting big money on Rachael to waltz off with the crown at Donald Trump's Miss Universe quest in the Bahamas this month. With odds shortening by the hour Rachael began at $16 but is now down to $4.50 for a win and expected to be as low as $3.50 tomorrow.
Time to take a punt. Star maker Grant Dwyer could pull off the trifecta with his nose for winning flesh after the success of Jennifer Hawkins & Lauryn Eagle.

worth a punt ? -Rachael Finch

has Grant pulled it off again with Miss Universe ?

Rachael Finch

After discovering the leggy blonde Jennifer Hawkins who was crowned Miss Universe in 2004 , reviving the flagging fortunes of Donald Trumps glamour puss event , model agent Grant Dwyer may well pull off another coup with this year's Aussie entrant and his latest discovery, Rachael Finch, another stunning head-turner.

Shuttlers may re-call Hawkins fame spread throughout the world as she became a front page sensation. She has since gone onto financial rewards earning of up to $3M a year from various TV and department store endorsements, recently moving into a $2.3M split level seaside house in Coogee with handsome hunk boyfriend Jake Wall.

Who could forget the dress mishap which looked for all the world like a staged event but was indeed an accident-caught on camera by a Shuttle fan which catapulted Jennifer back onto front pages world-wide and has since become a schoolboy pin-up. With the Miss Universe pageant set to take place on Paradise Island ,Nassau in the Bahamas, Rachael is a hot favourite to take the crown. Rachael is already picking up lucrative contracts as our snaps show from Lonsdale and others.

Jennifer slips up

Regular Shuttlers may also re-call when we revealed on another forum how Rolls Royce balked at the opportunity to transport Hawkins about town on her official promotional duties especially when it meant delivering Jennifer to her home town for a civic reception in the working class, former steel city of Newcastle just north of Sydney.
"Not quite us" they sniffed, "and besides, we don't sell too many up there."

Instead, the affable Tony Graziani who flogs Maseratis stepped into the breach and drove Hawkins about town. A good move as Jennifer's first purchase when the cash rolled in was $240k Gran Turisimo. Graziani then picked up the deal to shuttle movie goddess Sophia Loren about Sydney last year when she hit town to open a glitzy Italian style reception centre ..another perfect move when Loren invited Tony to holiday with her in Italy.

Grant Dwyer's other discovery, Lauryn Eagle who became the world champion water skier has also picked up valuable endorsements chiefly after she water skied the 240kms from Manly wharf to Newcastle, non-stop in the open sea -a feat that impressed Sir Richard Branson who immediately signed Lauren to promote something or other.
*********************
## A recent visitor to Sydney from Nassau, Nelia 'Minnie' Wynn has returned to her new Paradise Island home after a lengthy stay at Sydney's most splendiforous Darling Point harbourside mansion, Carthona, the gothic pile that houses the Oxleys. The Oxleys sensibly own 3 abodes in a row to house their extended family and once turned down a generous offer from Tom Cruise who wanted to purchase Carthona for his then wife, Nicole Kidman. Cruise had to settle for a smaller digs around the corner without the commanding views that make Carthona the most desired spot on the harbour.

Minnie has sold her Paradise Island 'Pink House', billed as the "world's smallest hotel" with it's 4 guest rooms. The Pink House has now been incorporated into Atlantis, where the next Miss Universe will be chosen later this month. ***************************

at the meat rack...

the entire staff of 2 at Social Shuttle, both vegans will go anywhere for a glass of that increasingly rare French champagne rarely spotted in todays' financial climate. But it flowed freely at the re-opening of the Victor Churchill butcher shop in Sydney's smartest street, Queen Street Woolhara.

Churchill's now joins Jones The Grocer just around the corner as the most expensive providors on town which shouldn't worry most locals. St Kevin's, the gloomy mansion nearby was sold recently by former PM Paul Keating for $10M with the purchaser declaring he had got a bargain even if he did have to call in some ghostbusters.

Guest Justin Hemmes was quick to brush of the scandalous rumours of cracks in his $200M nightclub and hotel empire and preferred to show off his latest flame, the gorgeous Amber Le'Strange. Justin's latest venture Ivy is booming which is a relief for his now 2000 strong staff..and the Hemmes family have never failed to make a success out of any venture they have launched.
Something tells us this may be the real thing between Justin & Amber which would make Justin's dad John & mother Merivale very happy as John struggles with cancer. Much sad talk amongst guests of the death of Johnny Baker and diaries being checked to see who will make Bake's funeral on Friday afternoon.
And a goody bag with a difference-a New York cut of wagyu steak which sells for around $300 a pound in Tokyo, a fact lost in translation to my cat Milly who dined on it that night.

Thrust into this new giddy world of cocktail parties and catering by star chef Peter Gilmour (from The Quay)and surrounded by handsome Stedman waiters-winner of the first top rating Masterchef series, Italian house-mum Julie Goodwin, loving every moment.
***********************
## Prince Charle's polo chum Sinclair Hill has chartered a jet to fly guests to Moree for an Art Fundraiser with the proceeds going to the Moree Plains Art Gallery.

11 artists will be showing, including well-known Sydney Artist Sue Nagel followed by a dinner for 150 at the Gallery, and afterwards Jack Singleton will be auctioning off the work. Jack's last venture, the launch of his Bondi Blonde Beer at the Iceberg's in Bondi Beach with Paris Hilton doing the honours proved to be a huge success with the Singleton's selling off the boutique brewery for a huge profit after just 2 years.

Hitching a lift on that jet will be retired radio shock jock John Laws and wife 'Princess' Caroline. After flogging off his amazing auto collection when he moved into the Woolloomooloo Wharf penthouse next to Russell Crowe, Lawsie is collecting again with a new powder blue Rolls convertible and early this year dispatched his chauffeur off to Alice Springs to collect a vintage Rolls he spotted there for sale.

Paris sneaked in former boyfriend Stavros Niarchos to the Bondi Blonde Beer launch but still couldn't avoid the Shuttle's shutters. (copyright: the Shuttle)

vale Bakes

He's been one of Sydney & Melbourne's most loved characters but now Johnny Baker has passed away from liver cancer.

'Bakes' as he was known to his friends, had battled skin cancer for many years now , receiving treatment at some of the world's top cancer clinics courtesy of good friends the Packers and TV mogul Paul Ramsey. Johnny was celebrating with Lady Sonia McMahon for her birthday just this year on Ramsey's luxury gin palace on Sydney Harbour when Sonia took a tumble down a gangplank.

Johnny squired, well walked , some pretty fancy ladies about town..Big Kerry's widow Ros Packer.. Caroline Laws ..Princess Margaret..Princess Mary of Denmark. A night out with Bakes often ended up with a sore tummy from laughing at his hilarious tales

Now Bakes is no more-gone to that great cocktail party in the sky. A modest man who lived in a small Bondi house and attended mass every morning, Johnny had one of the fastest wits around town and could enthrall party guests from princes to footie players...everyone just loved Bakes. We never quite knew what Johnny did for a living but a trip to New York, Paris or London in the Learjet, or a Mediterranean cruise in his converted minesweeper the Arctic P just wasn't on for Kerry Packer if Bakes wasn't onboard for entertainment value.

He'll be missed by all..Skye Leckie, wife of Channel Seven supremo David is organising the send-off expected to be at St Joseph's in Edgcliff and packed with Sydney's finest followed by a champagne wake. Bakes would have it no other way. RIP Johnny..we all loved you !

the opening act.....Arnie to Berry

Remember guys and gals..you read it here first.

The Governor of California is buying a farm in Berry - a small but chic country town in New South Wales, Australia.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is looking for digs in the rural retreat on the south coast that boasts some other big names like Sydney nightclub czar Justin Hemmes and actress Nicole Kidman & hubby Keith Urban who not only have a beach-side compound near Berry but a 45ha cattle ranch in Sutton Forrest just a short drive from Berry. Nicole and Arnie can take afternoon tea with each other and swap acting tips or the latest cattle breeding techniques.


Nicole & Keith's 'Bunya Hill'



Schwarzenegger spent a lot of time in Australia back when he was just a hunk of bulk pumping iron and crowned Mr Olympia from 1970 to 75. As Nicole has already snapped up one of the smartest properties in the area, Bunya Hill, a magnificent Georgian mansion that was once the home for a Governor, Lord Augustus Loftus in the 1880s we've already started checking out some suitable retreats for the Governor Arnie and came up with this steal which we reckon with a lick of paint, a few Corinthian columns could easily pass for the Governor's Mansion, Aussie style.