I consulted our frocks page four days before walking the red carpet in Sydney last week. I'd perfected the hand on hip pose and stepped onto the plush pile sandwiched between Australian Idol judge Marcia Hines and cricket captain Ricky Ponting. 

Alas, the photographers had no idea who the blonde chick in the middle was and I was deftly ushered to my seat without my paparazzi moment. But I didn't mind, being one of only 200 people at the filming of An Audience with Michael Parkinson was a huge treat.

He talked about his childhood and was immensely proud of his talented mum whose Fair Isle knitting was worn by the stars.

Her sad decline with dementia is what prompted him to become an advocate for the elderly, and he talks about her and his plight in our story on page 20. 

Michael was hugely entertaining and the show will screen here on UKTV at Christmas. Look for me, I'm only two rows back from Shane Warne. 

Have a great week and enjoy making some yummy goodies from our free chocolate cookbook.

  Hayley McLarin -  Editor

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