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The May 20 Edition

Can Ozempic really solve the West’s weight woes? | The brutal (very private) reality of widowhood | Meet the new Queen’s racy ex, Andrew Parker Bowles | When a friend calls it quits | The gift of life – literally | Historian Peter Frankopan rolls the dice

17 stories

A diabetes drug is being used for ‘easy’ thinness. Is it as magical as it seems?

It’s become a social media obsession. Could Ozempic and other drugs like it really solve the West’s weight woes?

  • Amanda Hooton
At Ascot in 2021. “Everyone loves him,” says Queen Camilla’s close friend, the Marchioness of Lansdowne, “but he’s always terribly misbehaving.”

Charming, unfaithful, misbehaving: Meet Queen Camilla’s ex-husband

At 83, Andrew Parker Bowles is still quite the player in royal circles. He had many dalliances while with Camilla, but the couple was “rock-solid”. In the end, Charles blew their marriage apart.

  • Hilary Rose
It can take years to break from the habit of thinking in terms of “we” after the loss of a long-term partner. “Everything in your life is geared around thinking, ‘Where is he?’ or ‘What’s she doing?’ ” says one therapist. “It takes about two years to rewire a brain.”

‘It takes two years to rewire the brain’: Remaking life as a widow

The shock of widowhood remains mostly private – leading outsiders to underestimate its overwhelming nature.

  • Fenella Souter
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‘Do not contact me again’: The sudden death of a friendship

What happens when a long-standing mate abruptly dumps you?

  • Ian Cuthbertson

‘I was just babysitting her for you – in the womb’

In a Torres Strait tradition, sister-in-law Serina gifted basketball star Cayla George a baby.

  • Konrad Marshall

Historian Peter Frankopan’s unusual rules for good writing

The Oxford professor of global history chats about living in hope, the state of UK politics – and why coffee and silence are important.

  • Benjamin Law
Actor Guy Pearce releases debut song (Video Thumbnail)
  • Exclusive

Good Weekend Talks: Guy Pearce set for surprise return in Neighbours reboot

His turn as Mike Young in the finale was meant to be a one-off, but when Neighbours came back from the dead, Guy Pearce found himself stuck in Ramsay Street.

  • Karl Quinn

Striking signs at Hollywood writers’ protest

How punchlines hit the picket line as US screenwriters battle for fair pay. Plus: get ready for the weekend with these fresh diversions.

  • Thomas Mitchell, Melissa Singer, Frances Mocnik, Nicole Abadee and Jill Dupleix
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Pressing the pedestrian crossing button gives me paws for thought

Our Modern Guru discusses post-pandemic biosafety etiquette for pedestrians.

  • Danny Katz

The winter dish that sounds daggy but never goes out of style

A bad name doesn’t seem fair for such a noble meal.

  • Terry Durack

Car Tetris

Paul Connolly’s Kitchen Sink Drama is a slice of domestic life, captured masterfully in only 100 words. This week: road trip struggles.

  • Paul Connolly
Danielle Alvarez’s pumpkin, pancetta and barley soup.
EASY

Danielle Alvarez’s pumpkin, pancetta, kale and barley soup-meets-stew

Somewhere between a soup and a stew, this dish is comforting and hearty without being heavy.

  • 1-2 hrs
  • Danielle Alvarez
Karen Martini’s green chicken masala.
EASY

Karen Martini’s green chicken masala

This curry is deliciously bright and light and the swift cooking time for the flavour payoff is a real winner.

  • 30 mins - 1 hr
  • Karen Martini
Har mee at Malay Chinese Noodle Bar.
14/20

Sydney: Malay-Chinese

The laksa king is back. Callan Boys joins the noodle queue.

  • Callan Boys
Beverly rooftop restaurant in South Yarra offers a view Melburnians haven’t seen before.
13.5/20

Melbourne: Beverly

Chapel Street’s new drinking and dining destination boasts an extraordinary outlook over Melbourne.

  • Dani Valent
Good Weekend Quiz online index image

Good Weekend Quiz

Trivia buffs: test your knowledge.

Helen Goh’s raspberry and lemon curd cake.

Good Weekend letters to the editor: May 20

Want to chat? We’d love to hear from you. Send your letters to goodweekend@​goodweekend.com.au

Other editions

The March 21 edition

Stephanie Alexander and The Cook’s Companion at 30 | Free-diver Ant Williams | Debra Adelaide and Gabrielle Carey | How to deliver a baby on a plane

  • 11 stories

The March 14 edition

The high-strung, low-key world champ who could become our most-capped swimmer | Ukraine’s world-leading robotics work | Filmmaking at -50C | Consoling a friend

  • 13 stories