POSTCODE 3000

FEBRUARY 18 is the big day when Shane Warne and his ex-wife who may become his future wife, Simone Callahan, are handed the keys to their $9 million majestic Brighton mansion. The 1885 heritage-listed property, Kilkerran, will be vacated by Bruce and Lisa Garratt, a genetically blessed couple who held lavish parties for their genetically blessed family and friends. They are moving to LA to support the rock career of daughter Laura Wilde. Their son, Julian, is staying to continue his studies at Melbourne Uni. Warnie, Simone and the three kids will start the next phase of their life in the five-bedroom house with tennis court and pool. The property includes an adjoining house and pundits are betting that Warnie, a poker lover who's competing in the Aussie Millions main event at Crown, will convert it into a poker den. Alterations to the house are also on the cards, so the $9 million Warnie has already laid on the table must be small change in his bulging piggy bank.

Nine's new lives

THE Freemasons Hospital's maternity ward has been busy with the baby boom at Channel Nine. Weather presenter Livinia Nixon gave birth to a big, bouncy boy weighing 4.6 kilograms (10lb 3oz), surprising and delighting mum and dad, Alistair Jack. A Current Affair reporter Elise Mooney gave birth to daughter Ava, joyous news for dad Tom Elliott and grandpa John Elliott. Nine News reporter Rachael Rollo, who recently returned from maternity leave, is in the family way again and is booked in to have her second bub. Defying the Freemasons trend, Jules Lund's wife, Anna, will give birth elsewhere in February. In addition to the booming population, nappies and booties are doing a brisk trade.

Something's cooking

CHEF du jour Andrew McConnell has split with wife Pascale Gomes-McNabb but a new chapter is opening. McConnell is working on his first cookbook, an eagerly awaited tome based on the heavenly dishes at Cumulus Inc. in Flinders Lane. While the words "celebrity chef" and "cookbook" go together like his tuna tartare with crushed green pea salad, amiable McConnell had so far resisted venturing down the publishing path. You could say he's joining the peas in the pod who have books. After some welcome R & R at Portsea, McConnell is back in the kitchen to get his recipes into print.

Court in the act

SERENA Williams and Maria Sharapova dress to thrill and shrill but there'll be two more fashionistas to watch today. Courtney Act and Trevor Ashley, divas on the drag-queen circuit, will have a hit outside Rod Laver Arena in corsets and feathers to plug their Midsumma show Gentlemen Prefer Blokes. There'll be far more on display during another festival event, Midsumma Mooning, at the Laird Hotel. The blokey buttock competition is hosted by Judith Lucy and Denise Scott, with Adam Richards as the warm-up man, so it's fair to say the night will be a crack-up.