SHE has sung amusingly about the shortcomings of boyfriends and of taking revenge on the unfaithful, but Lily Allen has put it all behind and her life has become so fantastic. She married long-time boyfriend Sam Cooper, 33, in Gloucestershire at the weekend. Cooper, a painter and decorator who runs a building company, announced during his speech at the reception that Allen was 16 weeks' pregnant. The award-winning singer, famous for the hits LDN, Smile and The Fear, suffered a miscarriage just seven months ago and the delighted guests dabbed their eyes at the surprise announcement. Comedian Harry Enfield, artist Damien Hirst, and actor Angus Deayton were among the 100 guests at the wedding, while the British television host Miquita Oliver, a childhood friend of the singer, had the role of one of Allen's bridesmaids. Her actor brother Alfie, whom Allen portrayed as a pot-smoking idiot on her first album, was an usher. The 26-year-old bride arrived in a Bentley with her actor father Keith Allen, who plays the Sheriff of Nottingham in the BBC's Robin Hood series, wearing a lacy dress by the French designer Delphine Manivet, featuring lace sleeves and a lace overlay with a fishtail skirt teamed with a pair of white platform heels. ''You can see, of course, the little stomach - it looked very cute with the dress,'' Manivet said. A small baby bump was noticeable as she walked into the church. Readings during the service included Edward Lear'sThe Owl and the Pussycat and the lyrics to Van Morrison'sHave I Told You Lately. The couple have been together for three years. Allen was six months' pregnant when she miscarried in November last year. Cooper proposed during a holiday in Bali on Christmas Day. Allen also suffered a miscarriage in January 2008 while she was dating Ed Simons, one half of the British electronica duo the Chemical Brothers.
HANSON CAUGHT IN RATTNER TRAP
Poor Pauline Hanson. Another man appears to have done her wrong. The star witness in her legal challenge for a NSW upper house seat has owned up to having operated under a fake name. Sydney schoolteacher Sean Castle, aka Michael Rattner, claims he leaked emails to Hanson. But can we be sure he is the right Rattner? After all, Hanson's lawyer, Peter Lowe, told the court Rattner was not only a real person, but he had a Facebook account to prove it. And here it is: this is the photograph that was pasted on a Facebook page called ''Michael Rattner''. It shows a man thoroughly enjoying himself at the 2005 Cronulla race riot. He was currently unemployed, according to the Facebook page. He went to Cronulla High, was an evangelical Christian, listed John Howard's ''we will decide who comes to this country and the circumstances in which they come'' among his favourite quotes, was inspired by Rodney Rude and Hanson, read The Protocols of the Elders of Zion and watched Romper Stomper for relaxation. On television, he liked Lotto results, A Current Affairand Today Tonight. Maybe Lowe should contact the Chaser boys for help in tracking down the real Rattner.
PEDAL POWER
Sydney's workaholic lord mayor and MP, Clover Moore, has been taking flak for deserting her parliamentary duties to carry out municipal duties in New York City and Portland and in Sao Paulo, Brazil. She issued an email yesterday in which she wrote of meeting the mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, and Portland, Sam Adams. Moore also talked bikes with lots of officials and reported that many eyes were watching Sydney's cycling growth with interest as ''we build this healthy and sustainable transport option and establish a new, enthusiastic cycling culture''. After her two-week tour of the Americas, Moore will take her seat when Parliament resumes tomorrow.
SORRY, TOO GAUDY
A bright, colourful mural of trees, sky, birds and freedom has cast a pall of depression over Newtown where black clothes and the macchiato are de rigueur. Somebody has complained at such fun and the City of Sydney council has slapped an order on a house in Wilson Street informing the owners the mural must be removed. The council went ahead with the order despite 62 signatures from people who quite like the mural. A rearguard campaign is being mounted by a tweeter calling himself mayorofnewtown who told his followers the ''city is responding to complaints re unapproved mural''. A mural defence front can only be days away.
ROBBO THE RITER
People born in the Philippines comprise 5.9 per ent of the Blacktown population, the largest ethnic group, so it is little wonder politicians want to keep in their good books, especially one new to the job, the local MP and Opposition Leader, John Robertson. So yesterday, when the community celebrated the 113th anniversary of independence from Spanish rule, Robertson went along. ''Just finished at a Phillpino Independence Day ceremony a Bowman Hall Blacktown. Well done to APSL & Chris Pilao (Australian Philippines Services League supreme commander) for organising the event,'' he tweeted. Such enthusiasm cannot disguise Robertson's need for a spelling book or an editor.
DIRTY DEEDS
It is nearly 16 months since AC/DC played at ANZ Stadium but the legacy of Angus Young and band still reverberates around Homebush. One of the largest counter-terrorism exercises held in NSW was staged yesterday at Sydney Olympic Park. The name of the exercise? Black Angus. More than 1100 NSW police, ambulance and fire officers and members of the Australian Defence Force turned the site into Abbottabad on the Parramatta. The deputy police chief, Nick Kaldas, said: ''Today's exercise has officers dealing with a dynamic situation which requires the deployment of specialist resources to respond to an incident at a place where a large number of people have gathered. As well, we have the emergency service organisations responding to manage the consequences which follow.'' Next year's anti-terrorism exercise can only be called called Back in Black.
BIG DAY FOR LADY GAGA'S ROMAN DECREE
In the Circus Maximus where they staged mass entertainments during the days of ancient Rome, Lady Gaga sang a few bars of her smash hit, Born This Way, at the weekend and demanded the end of discrimination against gays. She also proclaimed herself a ''child of diversity'' at a gay pride rally there. Wearing a green wig, the singer played the piano and sang a few numbers. But she devoted much of her appearance to denounce intolerance and discrimination against gays and transgender people. Among the places she cited was the Middle East, Poland, Russia and Lithuania. She also proudly cited her Italian roots - saying she was really named Stefania Giovanna Angelina Germanotta. Italy is one of the few European states that lacks specific legislation against homophobic violence and has no provision for gay civil unions. Some hoped the turnout would also send a message to the Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, who is dogged by a sex scandal involving an alleged 17-year-old Moroccan prostitute. He triggered outrage recently saying it was ''better to be passionate about a beautiful girl than a gay''. But not everybody in Rome was pleased by her participation. ''Frankly, I feel a bit humiliated'' that Lady Gaga has to come and tell Italy to defend gay rights, said an opposition MP, Paola Concia.
The Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney celebrates its 195th birthday today with a big party for young children come rain, hail or shine. The party will be held undercover in the Maiden Theatre. Entertainers rehearsed yesterday and Jeff Fatt, the Purple Wiggle, was the big hit among the kids lucky enough to see last-minute preparations. In fact, the Wiggles are patrons of the Sydney Children's Garden and one of the main features of today's celebrations will be seeing the Purple Wiggle hanging his wish on the huge Norfolk Pine Wishing Tree. Dorothy the Dinosaur and friends are scheduled to appear, and of course, what would any celebration of plant life be without Bill and Ben, the Flower Pot Men. There will also be a special birthday trail where children can make their wishes come true by walking three times backwards and three times forwards in the traditional dance around Mrs Macquarie's Wishing Tree. Organisers are also letting the children eat cake, plenty of it. More than 1500 cup cakes have been ordered in addition to the large official floral decorated birthday cake.
WITH INTERNET GUITAR
THE search giant Google has caved in to popular demand and given its hit Les Paul doodle - a playable digital guitar - a permanent home online. The decision came after Google initially extended for 24 hours the Les Paul doodle, but only on its US site. ''Good news for Les Paul fans: his doodle now has a permanent home, so you can keep playing, http://goo.gl/Tx1Sj,'' Google said in a post on its Twitter account. Visitors who wish to strum on the digital guitar can now play to their heart's content. The doodle, initially posted on June 9, was a tribute to the American inventor and guitar hero Lester William Polsfuss, better known as Les Paul. Paul, who died in 2009, would have turned 96 last Thursday.
HANSON CAUGHT IN RATTNER TRAP
Poor Pauline Hanson. Another man appears to have done her wrong. The star witness in her legal challenge for a NSW upper house seat has owned up to having operated under a fake name. Sydney schoolteacher Sean Castle, aka Michael Rattner, claims he leaked emails to Hanson. But can we be sure he is the right Rattner? After all, Hanson's lawyer, Peter Lowe, told the court Rattner was not only a real person, but he had a Facebook account to prove it. And here it is: this is the photograph that was pasted on a Facebook page called ''Michael Rattner''. It shows a man thoroughly enjoying himself at the 2005 Cronulla race riot. He was currently unemployed, according to the Facebook page. He went to Cronulla High, was an evangelical Christian, listed John Howard's ''we will decide who comes to this country and the circumstances in which they come'' among his favourite quotes, was inspired by Rodney Rude and Hanson, read The Protocols of the Elders of Zion and watched Romper Stomper for relaxation. On television, he liked Lotto results, A Current Affairand Today Tonight. Maybe Lowe should contact the Chaser boys for help in tracking down the real Rattner.
PEDAL POWER
Sydney's workaholic lord mayor and MP, Clover Moore, has been taking flak for deserting her parliamentary duties to carry out municipal duties in New York City and Portland and in Sao Paulo, Brazil. She issued an email yesterday in which she wrote of meeting the mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, and Portland, Sam Adams. Moore also talked bikes with lots of officials and reported that many eyes were watching Sydney's cycling growth with interest as ''we build this healthy and sustainable transport option and establish a new, enthusiastic cycling culture''. After her two-week tour of the Americas, Moore will take her seat when Parliament resumes tomorrow.
SORRY, TOO GAUDY
A bright, colourful mural of trees, sky, birds and freedom has cast a pall of depression over Newtown where black clothes and the macchiato are de rigueur. Somebody has complained at such fun and the City of Sydney council has slapped an order on a house in Wilson Street informing the owners the mural must be removed. The council went ahead with the order despite 62 signatures from people who quite like the mural. A rearguard campaign is being mounted by a tweeter calling himself mayorofnewtown who told his followers the ''city is responding to complaints re unapproved mural''. A mural defence front can only be days away.
ROBBO THE RITER
People born in the Philippines comprise 5.9 per ent of the Blacktown population, the largest ethnic group, so it is little wonder politicians want to keep in their good books, especially one new to the job, the local MP and Opposition Leader, John Robertson. So yesterday, when the community celebrated the 113th anniversary of independence from Spanish rule, Robertson went along. ''Just finished at a Phillpino Independence Day ceremony a Bowman Hall Blacktown. Well done to APSL & Chris Pilao (Australian Philippines Services League supreme commander) for organising the event,'' he tweeted. Such enthusiasm cannot disguise Robertson's need for a spelling book or an editor.
It is nearly 16 months since AC/DC played at ANZ Stadium but the legacy of Angus Young and band still reverberates around Homebush. One of the largest counter-terrorism exercises held in NSW was staged yesterday at Sydney Olympic Park. The name of the exercise? Black Angus. More than 1100 NSW police, ambulance and fire officers and members of the Australian Defence Force turned the site into Abbottabad on the Parramatta. The deputy police chief, Nick Kaldas, said: ''Today's exercise has officers dealing with a dynamic situation which requires the deployment of specialist resources to respond to an incident at a place where a large number of people have gathered. As well, we have the emergency service organisations responding to manage the consequences which follow.'' Next year's anti-terrorism exercise can only be called called Back in Black.
BIG DAY FOR LADY GAGA'S ROMAN DECREE
In the Circus Maximus where they staged mass entertainments during the days of ancient Rome, Lady Gaga sang a few bars of her smash hit, Born This Way, at the weekend and demanded the end of discrimination against gays. She also proclaimed herself a ''child of diversity'' at a gay pride rally there. Wearing a green wig, the singer played the piano and sang a few numbers. But she devoted much of her appearance to denounce intolerance and discrimination against gays and transgender people. Among the places she cited was the Middle East, Poland, Russia and Lithuania. She also proudly cited her Italian roots - saying she was really named Stefania Giovanna Angelina Germanotta. Italy is one of the few European states that lacks specific legislation against homophobic violence and has no provision for gay civil unions. Some hoped the turnout would also send a message to the Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, who is dogged by a sex scandal involving an alleged 17-year-old Moroccan prostitute. He triggered outrage recently saying it was ''better to be passionate about a beautiful girl than a gay''. But not everybody in Rome was pleased by her participation. ''Frankly, I feel a bit humiliated'' that Lady Gaga has to come and tell Italy to defend gay rights, said an opposition MP, Paola Concia.
STAY IN TOUCH . . .
WITH BIRTHDAY FLOWERSThe Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney celebrates its 195th birthday today with a big party for young children come rain, hail or shine. The party will be held undercover in the Maiden Theatre. Entertainers rehearsed yesterday and Jeff Fatt, the Purple Wiggle, was the big hit among the kids lucky enough to see last-minute preparations. In fact, the Wiggles are patrons of the Sydney Children's Garden and one of the main features of today's celebrations will be seeing the Purple Wiggle hanging his wish on the huge Norfolk Pine Wishing Tree. Dorothy the Dinosaur and friends are scheduled to appear, and of course, what would any celebration of plant life be without Bill and Ben, the Flower Pot Men. There will also be a special birthday trail where children can make their wishes come true by walking three times backwards and three times forwards in the traditional dance around Mrs Macquarie's Wishing Tree. Organisers are also letting the children eat cake, plenty of it. More than 1500 cup cakes have been ordered in addition to the large official floral decorated birthday cake.
WITH INTERNET GUITAR
THE search giant Google has caved in to popular demand and given its hit Les Paul doodle - a playable digital guitar - a permanent home online. The decision came after Google initially extended for 24 hours the Les Paul doodle, but only on its US site. ''Good news for Les Paul fans: his doodle now has a permanent home, so you can keep playing, http://goo.gl/Tx1Sj,'' Google said in a post on its Twitter account. Visitors who wish to strum on the digital guitar can now play to their heart's content. The doodle, initially posted on June 9, was a tribute to the American inventor and guitar hero Lester William Polsfuss, better known as Les Paul. Paul, who died in 2009, would have turned 96 last Thursday.
