Broadcaster turns 50 today but hoses down talk that a wedding is in the wind
RadioLive host Alison Mau is celebrating a milestone birthday today, and there was speculation the mother-of-two may have a conjoint celebration - a 50th bash and a private wedding ceremony. But Mau hosed down talk of any nuptials yesterday.
She took to Twitter to say she "Shouldn't have to annoy you all with this but ... reporters were staking my house. There's NO wedding this weekend."
Friends said the Valentine's Day celebration would be particularly poignant for the talkback presenter, who is celebrating with close friends and family, including fiancee Karleen Edmonds and Mau's teenage children Paris, 16, and Joel, 13 - from her 19-year marriage to newscaster Simon Dallow.
"Paris wanted to go to Sydney with her friends to see Fifth Harmony in concert, but did not go. Both kids were told they needed to be home this weekend with their mum," said a source close to the family.
Mau became engaged to the dance teacher in 2012, after a two-year romance.
The pair live together in a Kohimarama bungalow, which they have been renovating, and have refused to give details about when they would tie the knot.
Calls to Mau this week were not returned. Colleague Willie Jackson, who is overseas filming a segment for TV series The DNA Detectives, said he could not spill any details.
"I will send Ali a text for the big day."
Yesterday, Mau told Rodney Hide (who filled in for Jackson on-air) that she shed a tear this week before turning 50, and reminisced about her sister's nuptials.
"I had a little cry the other night. My baby sister in New York sent me a picture of me and her, when I was 19 and she was 12, and we were bridesmaids together at our eldest sister's wedding. I welled up, I had a bit of a cry."
Mau told listeners she is writing a tell-all book and has a publisher. No doubt she will save the details about her private life to ensure a bestseller.
A cricketing family affair
Brendon and Ellissa McCullum. Photo / Dean Purcell
The Black Caps take on Sri Lanka today at Hagley Oval in Christchurch to open the Cricket World Cup, but for their significant others, who will be watching in the VIP area as guests of NZ Cricket, the match is also a chance to bring the kids and mix and mingle with other cricketing wives.
"It's a really lovely family affair," said Laura McGoldrick, wife of Martin Guptill. "We all get on really well, and everyone has a great time."
McGoldrick will be joined by Ellissa McCullum (Brendon's spouse), Diana Mills (wife of Kyle), Renee Brown (girlfriend of Mitchell McClenaghan) and Marlise Nieuwstralen (the Dutch partner of Grant Elliott).
'Long slow' haul for Wood
The family kept the news of the accident out of the public eye for three weeks, to allow Wood and her sons some privacy.
Broadcaster Susan Wood's recovery will be "a long, slow process", a family member told
The Diary
this week, and her devoted sons are caring for their mother as they wait for progress.
Wood's two boys, Alexander Beck, 24, and Matthew Beck, 21, and her mother, Marie, are at her bedside as she rehabilitates from a serious head injury caused by a fall as she was carrying washing up the stairs of her Auckland home.
It is not known when the TV and radio star will leave the brain injury rehabilitation facility she is recovering at, the family source said.
"Susan has been making great progress, but she is a long way from being back to her normal self. She won't be leaving any time soon. It's a long, slow process and one that will take time."
The accident has been "a terrible shock" for her sons, the source said, and they have been strong and resilient for their mother, undertaking duties including maintaining her household and paying bills.
The family kept the news of the accident out of the public eye for three weeks, to allow Wood and her sons some privacy.
"It's been really hard on the boys, but they know she will pull through. The whole family are very positive she will make a full recovery."
Stephie Key sizzling on lovers' day
Stephie Key and her ode to Valentines Day 2015. Photo / Instagram
Stephie Key - daughter of Prime Minister John Key and his wife Bronagh - has used Valentine's Day to post revealing love-inspired, pop art-style photos on her Instagram page.
