Bevan's Perfect catch

Australian cricket star Michael Bevan is battling a bout of jitters. Famous for his victories with a flailing bat and an unfailing eye, the dashing young cricketer is so nervous he can hardly lace his freshly polished shoes. "I can feel the tension," says Michael. "That's natural, I guess. I've never been married before."

Such was the scene in suite 715 of the Manly Pacific Parkroyal Hotel in Sydney an hour before Michael, 26 was due to marry long-time love Tracy Tueley, 30 , his British-born partner of four years.

"Asking Tracy to marry me was the best decision I've ever made in my life," he says. "It's absolutely the right thing for both of us."

Even so, the butterflies in his stomach weren't giving up.

Fortunately, on entering St Andrew's Presbyterian Church at Manly, he felt his anxiety washing off him in waves.

The Australian Women's Weekly was the only media guest asked to capture intimate behind-the-scenes photographs of the special day.

Among those supporting Michael were Australian Test players Mark Waugh and Mark Taylor, and fellow cricketers Gavin Robertson, Richard Chee Quee, Wayne Holdsworth, Phil Emery and Scott Thompson.

In gold waistcoat and black tails, Michael was flanked by his best man Darrin Griffiths, 28, and his brother Tony 24.

Tracy, in a gown of duchesse satin, was accompanied down the aisle by her mother Elaine, bridesmaid and sister Lisa, 28, and her flowergirl, 10 - year-old cousin Gemma Jones, all from Manchester in the UK.

"I'm just so happy," says Tracy. "I've looked forward to this for such a long time and it's turned out perfectly."

The couple met four years ago in a Manchester nightclub. Michael, a promising NSW player, was spending a season playing English league cricket, and Tracy was out for a drink with her cousin.

"It was the night Sydney won the right to host the 2000 Olympics," recalls Tracy. "I went into the cocktail bar and he was standing there. I thought, 'Wow, he's nice!' I'd never seen anyone who made me feel that way before.

"As I saw him, he stared at me. For half an hour my cousin kept saying, 'That guy's staring at you.' Then he was at my side asking if he could talk to me. Because he was Australian we had something to talk about."

The couple started dating and, when Michael had to return home, he asked Tracy to visit him. Eventually, she moved to Australia and Michael proposed. However, they had to wait 16 months to marry due to cricket commitments, most recently the tour of South Africa.

The couple honeymooned on Queensland's Hayman Island, then enjoyed a few weeks together at their Manly flat before Michael joined the Australian Test team for the Ashes tour in England. And of course, Tracy was there to watch him play.

(Courtesy Australian Women's Weekly)

Glycerin in Creams

Many are confused by conflicting stories about glycerin. Some say it helps to moisturize the skin, while others say it is actually drying because it draws moisture from the skin.

The fact is that glycerin is a beneficial ingredient in creams and lotions because it is a humectant, that is, it attracts moisture. It helps to keep the product moist and attracts moisture to the upper layers of the skin where it's needed to relieve dry skin. It also makes products spread better. A formulation known as glycerin and rose water is one of the classic emollients/moisturizers. It was used by our great-grandmothers and is still used today.

If you apply straight 100% glycerin to the skin, it might be drying because of its humectant qualities, but the concentration of glycerin in creams is never higher than 50%.Glycerin is perfectly safe. It is used in medications that are taken internally as well as in products applied to the skin.

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