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"It’s a lot to take in": Carly Findlay reveals cancer diagnosis

<p>Australian writer, speaker and disability advocate Carly Findlay has revealed she has cancer in an emotional post shared on Instagram. </p> <p>"I have cancer. I also had a hysterectomy, and I’ll have early menopause," she began her post. </p> <p>Findlay said she had been taken to hospital the day she returned from an overseas trip, with severe stomach pain and bloating. </p> <p>“Tests showed that I have a large ovarian cyst, also known as an ovarian mass,” she said in an earlier post.</p> <p>The 42-year-old, known for her work as an appearance advocate as she lives with ichthyosis, a genetic disorder that affects her skin and hair said she had been experiencing symptoms for six months before they discovered the cyst. </p> <p>She was required to have a full hysterectomy, which means that she had lost the choice to have children, and may also experience early menopause as a result. </p> <p>"The surgery went well. I seem to be recovering ok, but this is the first time I’ve had this type of surgery so I don’t know what’s normal," she continued in her post. </p> <p>"Unfortunately two types of cancer were detected during surgery." </p> <p>“I’ll find out more about the diagnosis and treatment soon.”</p> <p>She added that: "Everyone around me has been incredibly gentle and kind.</p> <p>"The surgeon who led the surgery held my hand as she told me the news. Nurses are angels and should be paid more." </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C88-o6kyZOH/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C88-o6kyZOH/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Carly Findlay OAM (@carlyfindlay)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The appearance advocate also said that while she suspected it may have been cancer, it was difficult for her to take it all in. </p> <p>“Even though I knew cancer was a possibility, it’s a lot to take in, especially while recovering from major surgery.”</p> <p>Friends and fans have shared their well wishes. </p> <p>"Ah. Lovely Carly. Praise be for the intervention of medicine. Your heart and spirit and those who love you will carry you through this, and you will emerge, as always, with grace and courage. You are a gift. Much love and strength," wrote Kate Langbroek. </p> <p>"Sending you so much love, light and hugs. Thinking of you. You got this.🙏❤️" added Jelena Dokic</p> <p>"Sending you so much love 💕" added one fan. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

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"Exciting news": MKR couple Carly and Tresne share heartwarming update

<p><em>My Kitchen Rules</em> couple Carly Saunders and Tresne Middleton have shared that they are expected a baby boy. </p> <p>The couple endured the worst when their daughter, Poppy Grace, passed away in February 2023 at just 20 months old after battling leukaemia. </p> <p>Just five months after Poppy's death, the couple were dealt another blow as they announced they had suffered a miscarriage.</p> <p>Now, a year on from Poppy's tragic passing, the women have shared some joyous news with their followers, sharing that they are expecting a new addition to their family.</p> <p>Posting the pregnancy announcement to their shared Instagram page, they wrote that their baby boy is due on August 24th this year: just one day before Carly's birthday.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4-FyQ6RJLe/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4-FyQ6RJLe/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Carly Tresne (@carlyandtresne)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“We have some exciting news! Poppy Grace is going to be a big sister! 🎉” they said on Tuesday.</p> <p>“We’ve been battling with the right time to share this news, as we always want to be sensitive to those who have been going through their own challenges with cancer and fertility treatment. But this bump is getting too big to hide!”</p> <p>Carly continued writing of the challenging journey she and Tresne had gone through, both undergoing IVF while dealing with the grief of losing Poppy Grace.</p> <p>“We both struggle with visiting the hospital due to the difficult memories of our 17 months living in hospital with Poppy Grace," she wrote. </p> <p>"This darling little boy is something very positive for us to look forward to. Thank you to the people who have continued to be in our corner."</p> <p>"We want to give this sweet little boy the best possible chance, and we know that our beautiful Poppy will be excitedly looking down on us with happiness dancing in her heart. 🩵"</p> <p>The announcement prompted a flood of well wishes and congratulations for the couple, with one overjoyed fan writing, "Oh I’m so happy for you all. A beautiful little boy sent from above by their big sis."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

Family & Pets

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"Devastating": MKR stars' second family heartbreak

<p><em>My Kitchen Rules</em> stars Carly Saunders and Tresna Middleton have been hit with a second devastating blow for their family, just five months after the death of their daughter. </p> <p>The couple conceived their first baby, Poppy Grace, through a <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/mkr-stars-open-up-about-devastating-ivf-loss" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gruelling IVF journey</a>, before Poppy tragically passed away from a rare form of cancer just four months before her second birthday. </p> <p>Now, the women are continuing to fight for their perfect family and are undergoing another round of IVF. </p> <p>However, Carly and Tresna have suffered a miscarriage just weeks into the pregnancy. </p> <p>The couple shared their heartbreaking news on Instagram to update their fans who were following along with their IVF journey, saying they are "devastated". </p> <p>“Sadly, we know that miscarriage occurs in one in four pregnancies. It certainly doesn’t make living through one any easier,” Tresna wrote on the pair’s joint Instagram account on Wednesday.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CvKM1fko_jQ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CvKM1fko_jQ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Carly Tresne (@carlyandtresne)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“We had started to heal, we did a variety of health scans, we were fit and well and we felt as if Poppy was guiding us towards growing our family,” the post continued.</p> <p>“So we began the (IVF) process in May and on POPPY’S 2nd BIRTHDAY we found out Carly was pregnant."</p> <p>“We were over the moon and felt it was a good sign that we found out on such a special day.”</p> <p>Tresna said that it had “taken a minute to gain the strength to share where we are at”.</p> <p>“At the 11 week scan we failed to find the baby’s heartbeat. Watching the ultrasound machine scanning over Carly’s belly, frantically looking for a heartbeat was devastating,” she added.</p> <p>“Carly underwent a curette under anaesthetic in hospital on Monday. I was also going though IVF at the same time. My cycle was cancelled the same day due to my eggs being too large to be able to collect."</p> <p>“But even though we have had this set back, we will push though and continue to rise up for our precious Poppy Grace."</p> <p>“We hope that one day, our daydream of a family will come true, that Poppy will have siblings and we will feel the unconditional love of children again."</p> <p>“If this is your story too, we hope that your dream of a family will soon come true also.”</p> <p>The post was flooded with messages of condolences from their fans, while many offered messages of support for their future family. </p> <p>One person wrote, "Oh gosh, this is just so devastating to read guys. I’m so very sorry. How can life be so beautiful one minute and so unfair the next?! Wishing with everything that I’ve got that your little baby (or babies) of your dreams, are safely in your arms soon, and stay there for years to come. No couple deserves this more."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

Caring

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Carly Flynn takes a one-week venture into retirement

<p>TV presenter and journalist Carly Flynn might not need to worry about retiring for a decade or two yet, but when it comes to financial security in old age it doesn't hurt to get a heads up on what to expect.</p> <p>The 37-year-old has spent the past week experiencing life on $374 a week – the estimated amount she might earn as a retiree, based on an average New Zealand salary if she works until age 65, and superannuation stays the same.</p> <p>Flynn took the frugality challenge for New Zealand Money Week, an annual campaign to get people to think about their personal finances. The focus this year was to engage people with their KiwiSaver account.</p> <p>Her budget was a paltry $53 a day, which once bills were deducted shrank still further, to a meagre $24.</p> <p>The week was spent in activities typical of the average retiree: gardening and going to the library – "in other words, things I could do for free".</p> <p>Her daily latte was a goner, and a wine night with friends was skipped. Meals consisted of culinary delights such as porridge, tuna, spaghetti and eggs on toast.</p> <p>All in all the North Shore mum of two found the exercise to be "a real eye-opener".</p> <p>Flynn reckons living on $374 is "definitely achievable" and she knows thousands of other Kiwis do it every week. Some manage on even less. But it would be nice to have a little extra at the end of one's working life.</p> <p>"I think I'd like more for when I retire so that I can travel and still shop."</p> <p>Flynn joined KiwiSaver eight years ago but has been categorised as having a "set and forget" approach to her retirement planning. An inspection of her savings gave cause for alarm and she decided to double her contribution and change her fund and investment type.</p> <p>"I did a bit of research before I accepted the challenge and realised my own KiwiSaver savings were pretty abysmal and I'd have bugger all to live on at 65. I thought right, yeah, I actually have to do this health check because no one else is going to look after me.</p> <p>"It's interesting. We all sort of think that someone's going to look after us once we turn 65 or that we'll flog our Auckland properties and go and live in the provinces.</p> <p>"The reality is if I don't start saving now I'm going to have a pretty miserable retirement, or not the kind of retirement I imagine for myself."</p> <p>And that's a reality a few Kiwis might need to face. A recent Westpac-Stuff poll of 700 people found only 15 per cent believed themselves to be in a financially comfortable position to retire, while 43 per cent had done nothing at all to prepare for retirement.</p> <p>According to Westpac's head of wealth products Nigel Jackson "New Zealanders are pretty poorly prepared for retirement".</p> <p>Flynn says she began the week unsure how she would fare. In the end, she was lucky enough to receive a heap of tips and tricks she intends to keep using. She had also been given plenty of feedback from friends and relatives – including one very happy father.</p> <p>"This is a dream for my Dad. He's tried to preach that sort of stuff forever."</p> <p>Written by Josh Fagan. First appeared on <strong><a href="http://www.Stuff.co.nz" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz</a></strong>.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/finance/retirement-income/2016/01/7-common-retirement-myths-debunked/">7 common retirement myths debunked</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/finance/retirement-income/2015/12/balancing-act-for-funding-your-retirement/">Balancing act for funding your retirement is a tricky test</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/finance/retirement-income/2015/12/10-quotes-that-sum-up-retirement/">10 quotes that perfectly sum up retirement</a></strong></em></span></p>

Retirement Income

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Carly Simon finally reveals the man her song, You’re So Vain, is about

<p id="yui_3_16_0_1_1447882104353_14437" class="yiv8939529268MsoNormal"><span>It’s the hit 80s song that a generation of post-breakup teens yelled in their bedrooms. The song that we all sung with a certain someone in mind, that seemed to make even the most musically gifted abandon all self-control and belt at the top of their lungs.</span></p> <p id="yui_3_16_0_1_1447882104353_14463" class="yiv8939529268MsoNormal"><span>But for years the true muse behind Carly Simon’s famous song <em>You’re So Vain</em> has been kept a secret. Until now.</span></p> <p id="yui_3_16_0_1_1447882104353_14468" class="yiv8939529268MsoNormal"><span>Simon’s new memoir, <em>Boys in the Trees</em>, is a tell-all about the young musicians life and the stories behind her iconic hits. For decades fans believed <em>You’re So Vain</em> was about music executive David Geffen or Mick Jagger.</span></p> <p id="yui_3_16_0_1_1447882104353_14473" class="yiv8939529268MsoNormal"><span>“I have confirmed that the second verse is Warren [Beatty],” the star told People magazine. Beatty is an actor, producer and director, best know for his award-winning work on the films Bonnie and Clyde and Citizen Kane.</span></p> <p class="yiv8939529268MsoNormal"><span>Indeed, true to the lyrics Simon says that Beatty is so vain he thought more of the song was about him. “Warren thinks the whole thing is about him,” she said, confirming that he was only partly right. She revealed the lyrics that were about Beatty are:</span></p> <p class="yiv8939529268MsoNormal">“You had me several years ago when I was still quite naive</p> <p class="yiv8939529268MsoNormal"><span>Well you said that we made such a pretty pair</span></p> <p class="yiv8939529268MsoNormal"><span>And that you would never leave</span></p> <p class="yiv8939529268MsoNormal"><span>But you gave away the things you loved and one of them was me</span></p> <p class="yiv8939529268MsoNormal"><span>I had some dreams, they were clouds in my coffee</span></p> <p id="yui_3_16_0_1_1447882104353_14498" class="yiv8939529268MsoNormal"><span>Clouds in my coffee, and…"</span></p> <p id="yui_3_16_0_1_1447882104353_14503" class="yiv8939529268MsoNormal"><span>Simon says the rest of the song is about two other men, but at this stage she’s staying tight-lipped about them. “At least until they know it’s about them,” she says. Let’s hope we don’t have to wait another 44 years to find out.</span></p> <p id="yui_3_16_0_1_1447882104353_14510" class="yiv8939529268MsoNormal"><span>Tell us: Who do you think are the two other men who inspired <em>You’re So Vain</em>?</span></p>

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