IN Lifestyle

Passionate foodie, storm chaser, Turkish soap star and hard hitting journalist are just some of the talents Sally Ayhan brings to her new role as Channel Nine’s weather presenter and reporter.

While some of these talents – Turkish soap star experience included – have been left in the past, the adventurous Ayhan brings a vibrancy and warmth to the Channel Nine team.

We asked Ms Ayhan what she thought of her newfound hometown.

“I love it,” said Ms Ayhan.

“I’ve got a real outdoor lifestyle so it suits me to a tee.”

As a weather presenter with years of forecasting experience, it’s not surprising that Ms Ayhan turns the conversation to weather.

“I must admit I was a little bit nervous about the weather before I came over because even though I’m a weather presenter, I’d see 35 degrees and think oh my gosh how am I going to manage that heat,” she said.

“It’s actually so much more bearable because it’s dry, beautiful fresh clear mornings, rather than the humidity of Sydney.”

When asked whether she would consider buying in Perth, Ms Ayhan does not rule out the option.

“I was thinking of buying in the Freo area at some point, but I’m not sure.”

Fremantle is a much-loved area for the reporter who also frequents Mount Lawley and Leederville.

“I love the farmers markets and I’m a big fan of community events, festivals and things like that,” she said.

“So I guess the inner hippy in me is drawn to Freo, but I’m attracted to any place with a community buzz.”

Ms Ayhan’s appreciation for vibrant, cultural hubs may go someway to explaining why she chose Bondi as the location for the Sydney restaurant she opened recently with her husband. Sefa Kitchen serves Middle Eastern fare with a modern twist.

With a new restaurant and a widely read blog called The Food Anthropologist, Ms Ayhan’s passion for food is more than the usual My Kitchen Rules’ fan, a passion she blames on her husband whom she met in Melbourne ten years ago.

“We tended to bond over food and he would teach me about cooking traditions, Turkish breakfast was a big deal for us,” she said.

“I think over the years I learned a passion by osmosis and really enjoyed the pleasures of sharing food, not just eating it.”

After finishing her studies in Turkey, Ms Ayhan became feature writer at a Turkish magazine. But thanks to limited work opportunities for people who could not speak fluent Turkish, Ms Ayhan explored less conventional work.

“I appeared in the odd soap opera and commercial in between my journalism work,” she said.

“It was a little bit intense for my liking – a lot of dramatic people, famous actors getting fantastic treatment but perhaps not quite appreciating it.”

When asked how her soap opera stint compares to Channel Nine, Ms Ayhan laughs good-naturedly.

“Channel Nine is much more exciting!” she said.

“I have a lot more freedom to create my own work and do journalism as well as presenting the weather, so it’s multi-faceted and a great role for that reason.”

As a multi-talented woman for all seasons, we couldn’t help but ask Ms Ayhan, summer or winter?

“Spring,” quips Ms Ayhan with a laugh.

“I do love my sunshine, but I also love the freshness of the morning.”

For a reporter who pleasantly refuses to fit into most boxes, it’s no surprise her answer doesn’t either.

Watch Ms Ayhan present the weather week nights on Channel Nine and check out her blog at www.thefoodanthropologist.com.

IN Property Investing

Investing in property isn’t new to Briony and Brett - the young couple have bought and sold separately twice and three times respectively.

You could say the pair is quietly confident about building their investment portfolio, an increasingly common trend among thirty-something’s.

Their most recent acquisition is a Balcatta property, just three streets from the house they sold. But keeping moving costs to a minimum wasn’t the only motivator for the sale.

“We wanted to get in a better and more comfortable financial situation,” said Brett.

As a part-time physiotherapist, Pilate’s fan, ballet dancer and mother to 17-month-old Katia, Briony is not afraid of a challenge. In fact, ‘renovator’ may soon be added to her list of achievements.

“By purchasing a cheaper property with renovation potential, we saw an opportunity to make money,” Briony explained.

“And we decided to sell to use the equity in our home to decrease the mortgage on our new home.”

Like many sellers, Briony and Brett chose to use an agent to streamline the process
“The agent made the whole process as stress free as possible,” praised Brett.

The benefits of having a great agent are not lost on Briony either.

“A good agent that you feel comfortable with is important,” she said.

“No question was ever too silly for our agent and he had a good eye for who was seriously interested and who was not.”

But not every agent is ideal. Briony described how one agent built a great rapport with her as a seller, but lacked experience and market expertise on the buyer side.

“One agent I encountered was lovely when she came to appraise, but I had previously been to a home open she was running and she was abrupt, judgemental and pushy, which put me off using her,” she said.

So what advice can these seasoned sellers give to others wanting to follow in their footsteps?

Brett encourages people to be realistic about the fees involved while Briony has sound advice on making a property appealing to potential buyers.

“An overall good first impression will capture attention,” she said.

“Decrease clutter, clean your property, make sure it’s well lit and maintain temperature at a comfortable level.”

Briony and Brett are just one of many couples in WA choosing smart investment strategies over long-term renting. And with rental prices increasing, and the median sale price on the rise, more and more West Aussies are dipping their toes in the market.

When it comes to getting premium results, choosing an agent that understands the market and knows how to effectively communicate with buyers is crucial.

If you need help selling, buying or investing, talk to Realmark.

IN Burlesque

With sultry pseudonyms like Ruby DeLure and tantalising performances that make removing a glove feel simply provocative, you might think burlesque was just for the blokes. But according to Melanie Bruyer of Perth Burlesque troupe Sugar Blue Burlesque, the reality could not be further from the truth.

“Women love burlesque because of its romantic element of illusion, not to mention the glamour and gorgeous costumes,” she said.

Ms Bruyer, AKA A’dora Derriere, is Sugar Blue’s sole business director. She is also a performer, costume designer and mentor to Western Australia’s most renowned burlesque troupe.

The troupe brings the art of tease to the Perth Fringe Festival this month with The Chronicles of Burlesque, a show which pays homage to burlesque dancers through the ages.

“Watching burlesque is particularly romantic, especially when watching the classic acts, as you can be taken into another world for a moment or two,” said Ms Derriere.

The always-controversial Dita Von Teese and infamous Betty Page are just some of the burlesque performers that inspire the show. While Sally Rand, famous for her ostrich feather fan dance, is an icon from earlier days.

According to Ms Derriere, burlesque began as a social commentary or parody. The working classes would mock the upper classes by spoofing operas, plays and other aristocratic forms of entertainment.

Eventually, burlesque became a spectacular stage show featuring wondrous costumes, props and chorus lines. It was in the 40’s and 50’s that burlesque changed.

“Burlesque became all about men’s entertainment and eventually it had to go into underground nightclubs as some states in the US outlawed it”, said Ms Derriere.

Thanks to performers like Dita Von Teese, burlesque experienced a revival in the 1990’s.

“It was a feminist revival, with a feeling of empowerment,” muses Ms Derriere.

“Any woman could be a burlesque dancer, no matter what size or shape they were, and still, a lot of the performances were based on comedy.”

The bombshell vintage glamour of the past remains a strong element of contemporary burlesque performances. But many modern performers like to add their own creative flair.

“Some take on a more ‘Neo’ approach, going as far as ‘gorelesque’ with very dark and gothic themes like vampires,” explains Ms Derriere.

“There is an audience for all styles performed today.”

So what can audiences expect from The Chronicles of Burlesque? According to Ms Derriere, the show is very beautiful, with gorgeous performers, costumes and choreography. And of course, a touch of comedy.

If that isn’t enough, Sugar Blue Burlesque also hold burlesque classes for beginners and seasoned performers. Classes give women the opportunity to express themselves with no boundaries.

“The feedback we get off a lot of women who attend our classes is that it gives them a new found confidence,” she said.

“They find it truly liberating.”

For those of us content with sitting back and enjoying the timeless glamour of burlesque, check out the The Chronicles of Burlesque at the Perth Fringe Festival.

The show runs from Wednesday 20th to Saturday 23rd February. Tickets cost $30 and are available through www.fringeworld.com.au.