Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

The Government is being warned of the country’s vulnerability to more frequent severe weather, and the possibility of catastrophic earthquakes that could cripple the country. These earthquakes could occur in the near future, or even within the next few days. The news is hardly reassuring, and Kevin Milne is wondering just how he’s supposed to react. Should he try refund his concert tickets? How would an earthquake affect the pitch for Sunday’s cricket test? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The big news from my summer this year, is that I got married last weekend. Well, technically actually that’s not correct. My wife, Mava, and I were legally married back in May. But last weekend we had a little wedding. The white dress, the tux, the families in from different parts of the country and the World, the hair, the pocket squares, the petit fours, the rings, the champagne, the stress. Mava chose to enter to a beautiful song by Bon Iver. I chose to enter to – who else? - Kanye West. I’m not gonna bore you with all the details in the World except to say it was so good. So good. So special. The stress of the lead up melted away. Mava and I felt present. And more than anything, we felt incredibly loved. And although truthfully I’m feeling a bit emotionally depleted, I’ve found myself this week reflecting on a couple of things about our day. There are two vital elements in a wedding. One is obviously that you make a profound commitment to someone else. You solidify and formalise the bond and the relationship between the two of you. The other is that you do it in a room full of people who are important to you. I know this is a bit of a cliche, but one of those things... I really want to do again. Modern life is tricky. We’re all on different orbits. In different countries. Different cities. Kids, jobs, career trajectories: we’re all at different ages and stages of life. But what a privilege it is, a *rare* privilege, to pull the handbrake of push the big red button, and get all of those planets to line up together, if only for a night. How amazing it is to look around a room, to recognise all the faces beaming back at you, and know that you and each of those people have a special connection. Culturally, I reckon we can sometimes be a bit lousy at celebrating milestones. Getting married has made me determined to do better, to have more parties, to break the glass and hit the red button again. The morning after our celebration, I woke before dawn. I was exhausted, running on fumes, but still buzzing. Before my wife stirred, I kissed her on the cheek, walked down to the beach and slipped into the water. I lay, floating on my back, bobbing in the tide, processing everything. I felt so warm. So content. So lucky. So loved. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tara Canton is the definition of talented. Starting out in theatre, she was a triple threat taking up roles in the Sound of Music and Annie. But before she even graduated at Wellington’s Toi Whakaari, she landed the role in TVNZ’S 'After the Party', working alongside well-respected Kiwi actress, Robyn Malcom. "I've always been interested in performing in arts,” Canton told Newstalk ZB’s Wilhelmina Shrimpton. "I have an older sister Allegra, and she did musical theater, and dancing ,and all that growing up. So I kind of followed suit just, just, because I looked up to her and stuff.” She started her performing career with stage and musical theatre, and through Toi Whakaari was introduced to the world of screen acting. “When I booked this role, it was my first every self-tape that I’d done,” she said. “I had never done anything remotely like, professional in terms of screen work.” When it comes to working with Robyn Malcom, Canton said that she was a like a sponge, soaking up the experience. “She made it so easy to talk to her.” “I was trying to remember as much as I could.” After The Party features some darker themes and serious elements, one of which relates directly to Canton’s character’s father. “I really wanted to do the character of Grace justice,” she told Shrimpton. “Definitely a bit of a scary first role.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Their fourteenth studio album, Green day is back with 'Saviors'. A fifteen track punk-rock album that slots seamlessly into their discography and is, in their own words, an insight into the band's collective consciousness. "Saviors is an invitation into Green Day’s brain, their collective spirit as a band, and an understanding of friendship, culture and legacy of the last 30 plus years." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Search Party by Hannah Richell A spellbinding locked-room mystery about a glamping trip gone horribly wrong when a powerful storm leaves the participants stranded and forced to confront long-held secrets and a shocking disappearance. Max and Annie Kingsley have left the London rat race with their twelve-year-old son to set up a glamping site in the wilds of Cornwall. Eager for a dry run ahead of their opening, they invite three old university friends and their families for a long-needed reunion. But the festivities soon go awry as tensions arise between the children (and subsequently their parents), explosive secrets come to light, and a sudden storm moves in, cutting them off from help as one in the group disappears. Moving between the police investigation, a hospital room, and the catastrophic weekend, The Search Party is a propulsive and twisty destination thriller about the tenuous bonds of friendship and the lengths parents will go to protect their children—perfect for fans of Ruth Ware and Lucy Foley. The Woman on the Ledge by Ruth Mancini A woman falls to her death from a London bank's twenty-fifth-floor roof terrace. You're arrested for her murder. You tell the police that you only met the victim the previous night at your office party. She was threatening to jump from the roof, but you talked her down. You've got nothing to do with this tragedy. You're clearly being framed. So why do the police keep picking holes in your story? And why doesn't your lawyer seem to believe you? It soon becomes obvious that you're keeping secrets. But who are you trying to protect? And why? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Deep in the golden heart of the Ashburton District, the mountains rise up to meet you. Two hours drive from Christchurch, I turned off the inland scenic highway at Mount Somers, bound for Lake Heron Station. The sealed road ends by the historic Hakatere buildings, but the sense of heritage in these parts is rich. Turning off at Hakatere onto the graded gravel road to the lake, I’m rolling through a wide open basin of golden tussock and matagouri, bracketed by high, glaciated mountain ranges. Lake Heron Station is a magnificent high country merino station that’s been a going concern for the Todhunter family since 1917." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Psychologist Dr Dougal Sutherland joined Wilhelmina Shrimpton for a chat about beginning the year with oomph. Top tips include: -Daily scheduled activity -Mapping your activities to match your personal energy flow -Learning how to mentally switch off from work LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a great summer with scorching temps on the Port Hills, the plants started to suffer a wee bit – away from home for a week or more makes most gardeners a bit anxious. Plants dried out very quickly. How to Water? Never been a fan of sprinklers. I try to keep my leaves dry as much as possible; wet leaves often give fungal spores the opportunity to settle on the plant, causing leaf-spots, rots, downy mildew, and powdery mildew. Try to water the root zone of a plant, by depositing the water —gently— on the soil. A fierce jet of water can clog the porosity of the soil (not so good either!), so a nice shower-setting of your hose handpiece is perfect. Evening or Morning? It doesn’t really matter a lot, I think. The water cools the soil remarkably and, in the morning, (when it’s cooler) most of the water will actually penetrate the soil. In the evening (with warmer temperatures) a proportion of the water will evaporate, become a “cloud” of H2O gas and meet its mates, somewhere high up in the sky. In other words, it doesn’t do the plants much good. But watering in the middle of the day makes a huge percentage of the water disappear into the stratosphere. In my tunnel house (Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Capsicums) I prefer an evening watering to moisten the soil…. Followed by a liquid fertiliser (seafood Soup / Seaweed Tea) a few hours later when the soil is cooler, and the plants are in the mood for a liquid “meal” Established shrubs and trees? Most Nature Nerds that go walking will see in dry summers how established trees show severe signs of dehydration or wilting. Even without any rain those leaves will often look a lot better in the evening. Wilting is simply a strategy to shut off the leaves’ stomata to save the moisture escaping from these openings in the heat of the day. This wilting can go on for weeks, sometimes. A thoroughly good soak (hours and hours of watering) can re-set the water deficit in the soil. This deep watering is far more beneficial to soil and shrubs/trees than daily “piddle-waterings” Over-watering? As mentioned, a few months ago: to get trees and shrubs acclimatised to the drought, don’t “Over-Water” them. Let the search for water by getting the roots to grow deeper and further away from the main trunk/stem. Build Resilience!! I reckon that UNDER-WATERING is a great way to train your perennials. Regular droughts? Which plants are suited for water-stressed areas? Think Mediterranean species that often don’t get much during the 5 months of summer in Spain and Morocco and Italia. Often plants with blue-ish or white-ish colours or with thick hairs on the leaves (that stop water loss). Euphorbias, Echiums, Watsonias, cacti, succulents, phlomis, Jerusalem sage, rosemary, lambs ear, etc etc. Plants that can NEVER dry out. Ferns have got a different vascular system in their stems and fronds; these bundles are not as strong and lignine-supported as other “Vascular plants”; So when a fern gets too dry, its bundles simply shrivel up and irreversibly collapse. I warned you!! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apple is being forced to allow apps from outside it's App Store The EU's Digital Markets Act is coming into effect in March and it will see monumental changes to Apple's iPhone business. For the first time apps from outside of its App Store will be allowed to be installed on the phone, either directly, or via a third-party-created app store of their own. It's huge because Apple charges up to 30% of an App's direct revenue to be distributed in their store and have strict guidelines on what apps can and cannot do. These new rules allow for more freedom than ever. These new DMA rules will also force Apple to allow for web browsers to be powered by technology other than their proprietary "WebKit". For New Zealanders it won't mean much but it may give more ammunition for other governments to propose similar legislation. Explicit Taylor Swift images are going viral, but they're deepfakes Don't believe what you're seeing. The realistic pornographic images are likely generated by AI technology which makes creating them as easy as typing "prompts" or instructions - no photoshop skills necessary. A single instance of one image on X (formally Twitter) was viewed 47 million times before the account was taken down. In the US there aren't federal regulations around AI imagery, and no states have laws against creation or sharing of non-consensual deepfake photography. Taylor Swift's is one of America's sweethearts and this is shining a light on a very real issue because these types of images can be created for almost anyone. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Masters of the Air A new military drama from Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, based on a true story from in World War II about ten American airmen who risked their lives against unrelenting German fighters (AppleTV+). Black Coast Vanishings A new New Zealand true-crime documentary series about the mysterious disappearances of six people from the small coastal community of Piha (Three and ThreeNow, from Sunday 28 January). LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Priscilla When teenager Priscilla Beaulieu meets Elvis Presley at a party, the man who's already a meteoric rock 'n' roll superstar becomes someone entirely unexpected in private moments: a thrilling crush, an ally in loneliness, and a gentle best friend. Lift A master thief is wooed by his ex-girlfriend and the FBI to pull off an impossible heist with his international crew on a 777 passenger flight from London to Zurich. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s a very special anniversary for one of childhood’s most beloved figures: Winnie the Pooh. This month marks one hundred years since AA Milne introduced the beloved character to the world in a poem called ‘Teddy Bear.’ Kevin Milne joined Wilhelmina Shrimpton to celebrate the occasion. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At this time of year the plum trees are dripping with fruit! It’s time to make the annual supply of plum sauce and plum chutneys but it’s also time to bake this beautiful cake! Ingredients 3/4 cup sugar 180g butter, softened 1 tbsp vanilla extract 2 medium eggs ½ cup plain flour ½ cup ground almonds 1 tsp baking powder 6 plums, halved and de-stoned Method 1. Heat oven 180 C. Grease a springform tin. 2. Cream the sugar and butter until pale, light and fluffy. Add the eggs and beat well. Stir in flour, almonds and baking powder until combined. 3. Spoon the batter into a springform tin. Place the plum halves skin side up on top of the batter. Sprinkle lightly with sugar. 4. Bake for 50 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean. Let it sit for 5 minutes then remove the sides and cool completely. 5. Serve plain or with whipped cream and custard. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I want to talk about timing, because it really is everything. It can be the difference between whether you say or do something, and it can be the difference between whether you don’t. It can shape opinion, and it can morph public perception. The timing of an announcement or an incident can also dictate how it’s received. I think we’ve well and truly seen the importance of timing when it comes to our politicians and their mental health struggles. I know that Francesca Rudkin spoke about this on last week’s show following the shoplifting allegations against Golriz Gharahman, but the headline is back in the spotlight after former Labour Minister Kiri Allan opened up about her mental health struggles after allegedly drink-driving and crashing her car last year. Like Golriz, she resigned from her role, and like Golriz, she’s due to have her day in court after being charged over the incident. In her first interview since the crash Allan says she’d returned to work to deal with a change in Labour’s policies after a ‘mental health break’ … and admits she got to a point where she “decided she wanted to take her life” the night of the incident. Now before I continue, I think it’s important to remind everyone that both Golriz Gharahman and Kiri Allan have said that their mental health struggles are not an excuse but an explanation for what happened. Even so, they both faced a mound of criticism that mental health had been used to try and manage the PR disasters. There are of course a lot of similarities between the former politicians’ stories, and while I applaud them for openly sharing their struggles, I wonder whether the timing of that was what threw many Kiwis. Perhaps if they’d laid that bare when they entered politics, or when the first signs of trouble began to emerge, then many may have been more willing to accept the explanation. Or perhaps, by speaking openly about it earlier on, then the incidents may not have even happened and they’d still be sitting in the beehive right now. I realise that’s all very well in theory but in practice it seems to have become increasingly obvious that as a government, and also as a society, we haven’t created an environment where people feel comfortable enough to come forward without judgment. This was evident in a LinkedIn post I read last week after Golriz’s shoplifting allegations emerged, which stated that people with mental health struggles shouldn't bother getting into politics or positions with a public profile. Not only is that discriminatory and completely unfair, it also doesn’t bode well for democracy, swiftly eliminating 31% of Kiwis who in the latest New Zealand Health Survey said they live with moderate to very high levels of psychological distress. My fear is that although we’re seeing an increase in conversation and campaigns about mental health, that isn’t translating into an understanding or acceptance of the issue. Kiri Allan said in her latest interview that if she looked at how her mental health may have impacted the way she operated, that it was her responsibility to manage that aspect of her life, and that she didn’t do that well. She’s right. But there’s also some responsibility on our friends, colleagues and employers too. And to bring it back to timing, maybe if we walked the talk we saw in all of those mental health campaigns then it would never be an awkward time to speak out. Both Kiri Allan and Golriz Gharahman are now paying the price for their mistakes - as they should. Both have valuable lessons to learn. But so do we. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Award winning musician, Author, ted talker, Amanda Palmer is adventurous, creative, and a real go-getter. She was one of the great minds behind music duo “The Dresden Dolls” and won Artist of the Year at the 2006 Boston Music Awards. Amanda has a soft spot for New Zealand, spending nearly two years on Waiheke and in Hawkes Bay with her son during the Covid pandemic. Now she’s returning with a tour and new music, honouring her time as an accidental Kiwi, and joining Francesca Rudkin to chat about it. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Home-grown in Aōtearoa, Erny Belle released her debut album in 2022. 'Venus is Home' is flavoured with the sounds of alt-folk, country, and Pacific-pop and is an ode to her connection with her grandmother and growing up in rural Aōtearoa. Her latest album 'Not Your Cupid' expands upon its predecessor, adding new influences. The album is less narrative and more focused on imaginings, the throughline a little more cryptic and intuitive. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Dinner Party by Rebecca Heath The new exciting thriller by Rebecca Heath, author of THE SUMMER PARTY. A dark and twisty domestic thriller set in a seemingly idyllic suburban neighbourhood, where family secrets are best kept buried... Dark Arena: A Frenchman Thriller by Jack Beaumont When a DGSE agent is brutally murdered in front of his family, the 'Company' swings into action, determined to track down the killers. Meanwhile, operative Alec de Payns is turning a Russian intelligence officer by blackmail. His team must establish who is posting classified material against the Kremlin to embassies all over Europe. The clues lead to a secret meeting of businessmen, terrorists and mercenaries on a luxury yacht in the Mediterranean, which Alec must infiltrate. What he discovers there will set Europe on course for catastrophe. Can de Payns and his team establish who is setting up an assassination? Who is the target? And will they be able to stop it? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"South Westland’s natural splendour seems to grow in awe-inspiring intensity the further south you go. There’s a fairytale quality to the sense of escapism, as you drive through those long and leafy highway glades, where the forest canopy drapes across the road. I wended my way to Whataroa, where nesting is the star attraction. Just out of Whataroa, the rare white heron/kōtuku nest at the Waitangiroto Nature Reserve from September to March." "Just 25 minutes south from Whataroa, Ōkārito is an irresistibly laidback hamlet, like a world unto itself. On arrival, you’re rewarded with stunning panoramic views of the towering jaws of the Southern Alps, the roar of the ocean, the magnificent lagoon, striking sea cliffs and vast, lush forest in this heart-stealing eco-wonderland." "The twin glaciers, Franz Josef and Fox are revered as being two of the most accessible glaciers in the world, plunging down from the Southern Alps, wrapped in rainforest, almost to sea level. Descending from 3000 metres, Franz Josef Glacier terminates just 240 metres above sea level, and just 19km from the coast. The terminal face of Fox, which is the longest of the West Coast glaciers, is only 12km from the Tasman Sea. It’s what makes Franz Josef and Fox so exceptional – you’d struggle to find many glaciers so close to the ocean." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This year Kate Hall is embarking on a challenge. She’s aiming to only purchase local and New Zealand made food when doing her grocery shopping. Kate joined Francesca Rudkin to chat about why she’s embarking on this challenge, and the difficulties she thinks she’ll face along the way. Read her blog explaining the challenge here. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why bother with a yearly check-up? - Prevention is better than cures. - There are many things that we may not be aware of that we can do something about. - In many cases it’s not about now but about the future. - Three main areas to think about: checking for cardiovascular risk factors, early detection cancer, and prevention of disease. What things will your GP check for? - They’ll check for the ‘hidden’ issues. - Physical: look at blood pressure and weight in particular. Both can cause heart disease. - Run some routine blood tests, in particular checking blood sugar for diabetes and cholesterol. Why are these important? - Rising blood pressure, sugars rising in the blood stream, and fats in the blood stream are silent. We don’t know they’re happening. - Blood pressure and cholesterol left untreated can lead to heart disease and strokes down the track. - Elevated sugars can give us a warning that we are headed for diabetes, which is treatable with changes to diet, exercise, and weight loss. What else do we need to think about? - Cancer screenings: - Mammograms for early breast cancer from age 45. - Bowel screening from the age of 60 for bowel cancer. - Cervical screening for cervical cancer from age 25. - In men, think about a blood test for prostate cancer from the age of 50. - If we detect cancer early enough, we can cure it – that simple! Any other issues? - Being up to date with immunisations. - For children we need to think about all those diseases we prevent with immunisation. Measles, diphtheria, whooping cough, hepatitis, pneumonia, tetanus, and meningitis are all killers, and we need to make sure our children are protected. -For adults: a yearly flu injection, shingle vaccine at the age of 65, being up to date with Covid boosters, and discussing pneumococcal vaccine for pneumonia over the age of 65. -These are all important in preventing disease. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some new research suggests our fingerprints may not be as unique as we thought they are. The common thesis has always been that each of our fingerprints is unique, but researchers from Columbia University have run AI over 60,000 fingerprints and found that it's possible to detect when two fingerprints belong to the same person with 75-90% accuracy. Here's the scary part - they don't know how AI is doing it, but it doesn't seem to be using the markers that forensics experts have been using for decades. It seems there is something about the curvature and the angle of the swirls in the centre that are common enough on each of our fingerprints to identify us. There are still lots of questions, like is it to do with how the samples are collected? Or do these markers change over time? The tech layoffs continue Google has started 2024 with another round of layoffs impacting over a thousand employees and their CEO Sundar Pichai says to brace for more. Google is actively working to cut out layers of middle management to "simplify execution", but also focusing its investments in its core areas - which has seen funding reallocated from elsewhere. The tech sector has laid off nearly 8,000 workers so far this year, according to layoffs.fyi. Folks from Amazon, Discord, Instagram and many startups. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

True Detective: Night Country The acclaimed HBO detective series is back, this time starring Jodie Foster and Kali Reis (professional boxer turned actor) and set in chilling small town Alaska (Neon). Boy Swallows Universe Bryan Brown stars in this Australian drama based on the bestselling book of the same name, about a young boy from Brisbane who must navigate the criminal world (Netflix).Death and Other Details Fans of an Agatha Christie mystery will enjoy this new series about a detective trying to solve a murder on a Mediterranean ocean liner where every passenger seems to be hiding something (Disney+). LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Iron Claw The true story of the inseparable Von Erich brothers, who make history in the intensely competitive world of professional wrestling in the early 1980s. Through tragedy and triumph, under the shadow of their domineering father and coach, the brothers seek larger-than-life immortality on the biggest stage in sports. Bitconned In this true-crime documentary, three guys exploit the freewheeling cryptocurrency market to scam millions from investors and bankroll lavish lifestyles. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whip up these beef tacos in a minute on the BBQ and you’ve got yourself a feast! Makes 10-12 tacos Ingredients: 1 piece rump steak, sliced into thin strips 1 red capsicum, sliced thinly 1 onion, sliced thinly 2 cloves garlic, minced with some salt 2 tsps. cumin seeds 1 tsp chilli flakes ½ tsp dried oregano 2 tbsps. olive oil Juice from a lemon or lime To serve: 10-12 tortilla ½ cup guacamole Shredded lettuce Crumbled feta Salsa – I use La Morena available in supermarkets Method: 1. Marinate the beef strips in all of the main ingredients for at least 15 minutes. 2. While the meat marinates, warm the tortilla on the BBQ or in a pan, keeping them warm wrapped in a tea towel. Set out a build your own platter with tortilla, lettuce, guacamole, feta and salsa. 3. Cook the beef and vegetable mix on a hot BBQ plate or in a pan (do it in batches so it doesn’t stew) until the beef is just cooked. Serve alongside the platter and diners can build their own taco! LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2024 is still in its early days but nearly three weeks into January, Kevin Milne is starting to get a sense of what the year has in store for him. He told Francesca Rudkin that this is the time of year where you have to look for omens, and with a speeding ticket and an insurance refund it’s already looking like a mixed bag. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week I found myself wondering if we’re too hard on politicians? Is there enough support for those who choose to go into public service? And why do we forget they’re human too? When we see some of politics’ most passionate, talented, hard-working participants, some touted as potential leaders, hit mental health road bumps which often derail their careers, you’ve got to wonder if it’s worth it. This time last year our then Prime Minister called a press conference and announced she didn’t have enough energy in the tank to do the job well and was resigning. She wanted to spend more time with her family. It was a shock, but not surprising. It had been a brutal, unprecedented 5 years at the top for Ardern, and would have taken a toll on any leader. This January we have another surprising resignation of a high-profile politician, for quite different reasons. In the case of Greens MP Golriz Ghahraman it was due to allegations of shoplifting, for which she has now been charged. Ghahraman did not offer an excuse —and rightly so, as there’s no excuse for illegal behaviour— but she did try and offer an explanation. An extreme stress response to her work and unrecognised trauma contributed to her irrational behaviour – basically, it was down to her mental health. As I know from hosting Summer Mornings this week, some of you feel empathy for Ghahraman, appreciate her hard work, and wish her the best in dealing with her issues. Some of you believe that mental health is just a convenient excuse. I think it’s both. We need to differentiate between a person’s mental health crisis, which deserves our compassion, and their actions, which can be inexcusable. It is possible to hold both thoughts at the same time. What we don’t want though is for the mental health ‘excuse’ to become an easy PR solution to a problem, because it’s really important people —from all walks of life— share their stories to destigmatise mental health issues. What intrigued me this week was when Ghahraman’s Green Party colleagues and former members of Parliament spoke out about the stress, violent and sexual threats, and the challenges of being a politician, but especially a female politician. Abuse has always been a part of being a politician. Talk to any politician and they will tell you about some of the crazy abuse they have received over the years, but you get the sense from those in the business now that it’s worse. Why do people feel they have the right to abuse and threaten politicians? If you don’t like their policies, don’t vote for them. There is never any rationale or excuse for sexual or violent threats. We must differentiate between the person and the politics, and at the same time offer better support for those who decide to enter public service. This needs to come from both the party and Parliamentary Services. The last thing we want is for our politicians to become unreachable and untouchable due to a fear of the public, or for good, capable people to decide to avoid public service altogether. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was left to my wife to break the bad news. Our boy was sitting patiently in the back of the car and as we made our way across town, she gently asked him about the letter which we’d just discovered he’d written to Santa. “When did you write it?” She asked. “A couple of weeks ago. I didn’t tell you, cos it was going straight to Santa.” “Fair call. Good thinking. Who helped you do it?” “My Kaiako... my teacher.” “And... um... What did you ask for?” “Oh, nothing major,” he said. “The standard. A Rubik’s cube. Some stuff for his Beyblade spinning tops. Oh, and you know... a dog.” “A dog?” Asked mum. “Two dogs,” replied our boy. “So, they’ll always have someone to play with even when I’m at school.” Nothing stokes the magic of Christmas like watching it through kids’ eyes. Nothing kills your dream of two new pet dogs like Mum gently explaining that Santa called her on the phone from an unknown number to double-check the pets would be ok... and unfortunately, our family just isn’t in a position where we can have two new dogs, this year. What am I looking forward to this Christmas? I’m looking forward to watching his face when we finally let him loose on the non-canine gifts sitting there, tantalising and mysterious, under the Christmas tree. I’m looking forward to cracking the click-clack Tupperware and hoeing into my mum’s Christmas baking. I’m looking forward to knocking around on guitars, cold drinks in the summer twilight, and turning off all of the notifications on my phone. I’m looking forward to meeting my new nephew, baby Freddie, for the first time. I’m looking forward to playing with his older brother and sister, who are at the age where all they want to do is a bit of rough and tumble. We’ll play Jonah – an old favourite where I crouch on one side of the lounge, and they try to run past me and score an imaginary try on the couch, only for me to pick them up and tackle them to the carpet. My nephew will no doubt ask me to string him like a pig... holding him from the ankles and dangling him upside down. A great way to wind up a four-year-old just before bed. This is our last show morning for 20203. It’s been a year. For me, 2023 started for me with a 2000km road trip across South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, and Mozambique, and is ending in Nelson. We’ve had an election. Natural disasters. Wars. World Cups. Somewhere in there, I asked my partner to marry me. For me, this time of year is when we bank all of that. A time to exhale. To reconnect, reset, recharge and go again. And for all the peripheral stress, nothing else comes close. Dogs or no dogs, I love Christmas. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In her own right, Lorin Clarke, the daughter of New Zealand Comedian legend John Clarke, is as talented as it comes. Following in her father’s footsteps, Lorin expressed her creative side through writing and producing children's TV, film, and books, as well as podcasts and columns for the ABC. She’s told the story of what it was like growing up with John as a father in her memoir ‘Would that be Funny? Growing Up with John Clarke’. Lorin joined Jack Tame to chat about the memoir, which was released in August this year. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two time Grammy Award Winner Samara Joy has released her first Christmas Album! The album features six songs total, four of them completely new: - Warm in December- Twinkle Twinkle Little Me- The Christmas Song- Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas- O Holy Night (feat. The McLendon Family)- The Christmas Song (Live) LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fiction: The Secret Hours – Mick Heron A gripping spy thriller from the bestselling author of Slow Horses, about a disastrous MI5 mission in Cold War Berlin—an absolute must-read for Slough House fans. Learned by Heart –Emma Donaghue Eliza and Lister have never been this wide-awake in their lives, and the Slope, with its curtains drawn wide, is bright with starlight. They talk in whispers, not to disturb the maids who lie sleeping on the other side of the box room. The question Eliza’s been needing to ask swells like a great berry in her mouth, and all at once she’s not scared to let it out, not scared at all, not scared of anything . . . Tom Lake – Anne Patchett This is a story about Peter Duke who went on to be a famous actor.This is a story about falling in love with Peter Duke who wasn't famous at all.It's about falling so wildly in love with him – the way one will at twenty-four – that it felt like jumping off a roof at midnight.There was no way to foresee the mess it would come to in the end. Non Fiction: Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World – John Vaillant In May 2016, Fort McMurray, the hub of Canada's oil industry and America's biggest foreign supplier, was overrun by wildfire. The multi-billion-dollar disaster melted vehicles, turned entire neighborhoods into firebombs, and drove 88,000 people from their homes in a single afternoon. Through the lens of this apocalyptic conflagration--the wildfire equivalent of Hurricane Katrina--John Vaillant warns that this was not a unique event, but a shocking preview of what we must prepare for in a hotter, more flammable world. Fire has been a partner in our evolution for hundreds of millennia, shaping culture, civilization, and, very likely, our brains. Fire has enabled us to cook our food, defend and heat our homes, and power the machines that drive our titanic economy. Yet this volatile energy source has always threatened to elude our control, and in our new age of intensifying climate change, we are seeing its destructive power unleashed in previously unimaginable ways. The Wager – David Grann On January 28, 1742, a ramshackle vessel of patched-together wood and cloth washed up on the coast of Brazil. Inside were thirty emaciated men, barely alive, and they had an extraordinary tale to tell. They were survivors of His Majesty’s Ship the Wager, a British vessel that had left England in 1740 on a secret mission during an imperial war with Spain. While the Wager had been chasing a Spanish treasure-filled galleon known as “the prize of all the oceans,” it had wrecked on a desolate island off the coast of Patagonia. The men, after being marooned for months and facing starvation, built the flimsy craft and sailed for more than a hundred days, traversing nearly 3,000 miles of storm-wracked seas. They were greeted as heroes. But then ... six months later, another, even more decrepit craft landed on the coast of Chile. This boat contained just three castaways, and they told a very different story. The thirty sailors who landed in Brazil were not heroes – they were mutineers. The first group responded with countercharges of their own, of a tyrannical and murderous senior officer and his henchmen. It became clear that while stranded on the island the crew had fallen into anarchy, with warring factions fighting for dominion over the barren wilderness. As accusations of treachery and murder flew, the Admiralty convened a court martial to determine who was telling the truth. The stakes were life-and-death—for whomever the court found guilty could hang. The Twat Files: A hilarious sort-of memoir of mistakes, mishaps and mess-ups – Dawn French When I was younger I wanted to be an interesting, sophisticated, semi-heroic, multi-layered person. BUT. That kind of perfect is impossible. Being an actual twat is much more the real me. Sorry to boast, but I am a champion twat. In The Twat Files I will tell you about all the times I've been a total and utter twat. The moments where I've misunderstood stuff and messed up. My hope is that these stories might fire up yer engines to remind you of just what a massive twat you also are. Let's celebrate and revel in this most delightful of traits together. That would be perfectly twatty. The Woman In Me – Britney Spears The Woman in Me is a brave and astonishingly moving story about freedom, fame, motherhood, survival, faith, and hope. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"One of my favourite Kiwi road trips can be mistaken as an unsung feeder route in South Westland, stitching the West Coast’s Glacier Country to the glittery allure of Wanaka and Queenstown. Rushing is the problem. Anyone who races through the ravishing Haast Pass Highway is unwittingly short-changing themselves. Set aside the time to devour its epic glories. As the last mountain pass to be constructed over the Southern Alps and only fully chip-sealed in 1995, this 140km-long panoramic alpine pass still exudes a “final frontier” sense of escapism as it threads its way through South Westland’s primeval forests. The route had long been used by Māori warriors and greenstone (pounamu) gatherers, as they traversed the Main Divide." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

‘Tis the season to eat, drink, and be merry. Emphasis on drink. Increased alcohol consumption can be a problem at this time of year, especially as people are under increased amounts of stress and pressure. This can sometimes contribute to problem drinking, as people increasingly use alcohol or other drugs as a way to cope. At Christmas, drinking becomes even more socially acceptable, and workplaces have a role in this, often via work Christmas functions which give people the license to drink as part of unwinding from work. It’s useful to think about whether alcohol will have a role in workplace functions in the future. Lots of workplaces are reducing their emphasis on alcohol as part of their functions e.g., having outdoor picnics or doing activities where alcohol use isn’t the core thing or choosing a venue for a Christmas party that doesn’t serve alcohol. On a personal front there are some danger signs to look out for: - Increased tolerance: At first, 2 drinks was enough to relax, then it was 3, now it’s 4. The more you drink, the more your body adapts, so that the same amount has less effect. - It’s hard to stop or cut back. - Problems with others: are you “that person” at the office Christmas party or social function? - Life feels smaller: Sometimes, we stop doing things that matter, or only do them if we can do them while drinking. This starts to limit your life and can lead to giving up hobbies or even people that you used to enjoy. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I have always loved travel, especially to great Natural Environments. We all have favourite destinations and I have been extremely lucky touring the world while filming for Discovery Channel and Animal Planet – But in New Zealand alone, there are plenty of places that are inspirational when you want to have a break for all sorts of reasons: Gardening Botanic gardens in Auckland, Hamilton, Christchurch, Otari (Wellington), Dunedin, Queens Park Invercargill, Napier and Waikereru (Just outside Gisborne). Most have their own botanical highlights: local plants, or a series of trees and shrubs from around the world – others focus on botanists and their historical discoveries. Otari/Wilton Bush: New Zealand’s only public botanic garden dedicated solely to native plants – all because of a vision by Leonard Cocaine. Waikereru – Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander plants from Cook’s Endeavour. If you want to get some inspiration for your garden, go and visit some of those places mentioned above. This is gardening on a huge scale. At the same time you’ll find out what grows well in your region and often keep up on the latest plant releases. Stunning Natural Parks Mount Taranaki – great tracks in the National park: The Puffer Track going up steeply and showing you the spectacular botany as you climb higher and higher, ending up on the Round-the-Mountain track. You may have heard about the famous cloud forests (Moist air going upwards in Mountainous Tropical areas) – well, if you park your car at the lower end of the North Egmont carpark (down from the visitor centre) you can access the Connett loop track, which goes through New Zealand’s cloud forest. This is the real deal in Aotearoa. The Lewis Pass (right at the top) has a fabulous, high altitude walk around wetlands (tarns) with orchids flowering and constantly on the edge of the tree-line: shrunken alpine versions of trees you might know from lower altitudes. If you like Lichens, this is the walk to make. Great insect life all over the place, especially in late spring and summer. (Alpine stone weta!) Further south, try to spend some time in the Catlins. Sealions, Southern rata flowering, deserted beaches and extraordinary forests in pristine landscapes. This is where you immediately get the definition of Biodiversity. This is the very first time in my life that I have mentioned the Catlins on the wireless – it should remain a secret place for ever and ever (ake ake). Milford track too long for you? I have a perfect alternative: Start the Routeburn track on SH 94 (the Milford Road, an hour north of Te Anau) and get to Key Summit. Pick a good weather day and get to the top: Alpine views, wetlands with magical wetland plants (a few Sundew species – Drosera); these plants eat insects – extraordinary! Key summit is the Natural History of Lord of the Rings. Oh yes… rock wrens !!! Ecological “Islands” These are bits of our Landscape that have been made predator-free. That allows the presence of pretty rare birds, lizards, aquatic critters and insects, to name but a few groups under pressure. Zealandia (Wellington) is a mere 20 minutes from down town. Predator proof fence keeps the nasties out; kaka,Tuatara, falcons, kiwi, tieke hihi etc etc. The noise can be deafening. Maungatautari near Cambridge, south of Hamilton is an impressive breeding ground for western brown kiwi: “kohanga kiwi”. After releasing some of these birds there, the numbers increased dramatically. Now these birds can be translocated to other sites with effective pest control. Good numbers of other endangered birds and bats. Brook Waimarama near Nelson where the predator-proof fence keeps the locals safe. It’s a great valley with aquatic habitats and my favourite giant carnivorous snails (Powelliphanta) Orokonui EcoSanctuary North of Dunedin city. One of the few places where you can see the large Otago skink, sunning itself on warm rocks in the sun. With Kaka, Tui and Bellbird sipping nectar from native flowers and additional sugar water dispensers, the sounds are reminiscent of the concept of a cacophony This is what New Zealand sounded like when Maori arrived! Tawharanui Open Sanctuary is probably the most “summer Holiday destination”: North of Auckland on the Coast, not far from Goat Island. Kiwi, Takahe, brown teal, Kaka and bellbird, tui and some stunning (albeit small) areas with original forests. Puriri trees with puriri moth holes in the trunks, beaches with dotterels and rocky sea-shore sites with amazing marine rockpools with endemic Nudibrancs and endemic fishes. It’s the place where we take teachers for the school holidays with the Blake Inspire sessions: Nature Nerd teachers, ready to teach Nature Nerd Kids! Finally: My environmental “home” in Aotearoa: Wingspan in Rotorua. This is the place where you can interact with falcons, harriers and owls, and learn about the people that rescue these raptors and teach them to fly and hunt for prey, using ancient falconry techniques and traditional methods

Wine: 2023 Giesen Uncharted Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough $20.99 Why I chose it: - I wanted to choose a wine that would put a smile on the face of the largest number of people as a sort of Christmas present to listeners who enjoy wine. - Sauvignon Blanc is our biggest selling wine both locally and overseas. - Giesen is a large, quality conscious producer of Sauvignon Blanc. - I recently tasted this wine in a blind line-up and it performed very well. - NZ makes the world’s best SB according to many top wine critics (We make 25% of the world’s SB). What does it taste like? - “Sweet acid” sounds like a contradiction in terms but to me it describes an important component of this wine perfectly. Gentle sauvignon with good intensity of passionfruit, guava, grapefruit flavours with a gooseberry undercurrent. Why it’s a bargain: $20.99 is an average price for Sauvignon Blanc but this is a well-above average quality wine. Where can you buy it? - New World $17.99 (check the vintage, wait for 2023) - Glengarry Wines in Auckland (2022) $18.99 - Vineonline $17.99 Food match? - Most seafoods, great with clams/cockles Will it keep? - Drink up LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Passkeys are the reverse password you never need to remember. Instead of having your username and password stored on the server and it letting you in if you can make it match, the passkeys instead rely on your device to unlock a secret key, and only if the keys match mathematically, will the authentication be granted. The benefits: You can't be tricked! The website/app is coming to you clearly identifying itself and providing their version of the 'key'. Your private key will only work with its corresponding key held by the true website. It's more secure! You need to prove you are you (using biometrics such as a fingerprint or face scan on your phone or a device) and will need to actually have the device on you to first unlock your private key and it never leaves your device. If the server is hacked, then it's basically useless information. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vigil A new season of the British crime drama that starred Suranne Jones as a detective solving a murder on a submarine - this time, however, she’s investigating a murder on land (TVNZ+, Boxing Day). Fool Me Once An eight-part British thriller based on the book by Harlan Coben about a woman recovering from the murder of her husband, when she unexpectedly sees him again and starts to uncover an unlikely conspiracy (Netflix, New Year’s Day). The Tourist Jamie Dornan returns for another game of cat-and-mouse in this thriller about a man who has no memory of who he is and why somebody is trying to kill him (TVNZ+, 2 January). LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I stand by this recipe as the one and only (controversial!) as it turns out a gorgeous pav every time – crisp outer shell and marshmallow inside. Makes one large or 6-8 small individual pavs. Ingredients: - 5 medium egg whites - 280g caster sugar - 1 tbsp cornflour - 1 tsp white vinegar Method: 1. Heat your oven to 160 C fan bake and line an oven tray with baking paper. 2. With an electric beater on medium-high, whisk the egg whites until soft peaks begin to form. Start adding the sugar, a tablespoon at a time, whisking well between each addition. I scrape down the sides a few times to make sure that all of the sugar is incorporated. Allow 12-15 minutes for this - it should be thick and shiny. Add in cornflour and vinegar and beat the meringue for 20-30 seconds more. 3. Reduce oven temperature to 100 C. 4. Pile up on lined tray, smoothing edges with the back of a wet spoon. 5. Bake for 1.5-2hrs hours (or until pav easily pulls away from the paper and the base is crispy) then turn oven off and allow to cool completely without disturbance. 6. Dressing your pav: Whipped cream or a combination of cream and mascarpone is a good base then add any toppings you wish to suit the season. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Boys in the Boat During the height of the Great Depression, members of the rowing team at the University of Washington get thrust into the spotlight as they compete for gold at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. One Life The story of British humanitarian Nicholas Winton, who helped save hundreds of Central European children from the Nazis on the eve of World War II. Ferrari During the summer of 1957, bankruptcy looms over the company that Enzo Ferrari and his wife built 10 years earlier. He decides to roll the dice and wager it all on the iconic Mille Miglia, a treacherous 1,000-mile race across Italy. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s the little things that matter. This week Kevin Milne has been thinking about the little traditions that families observe at Christmas. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Think Later is the second studio album released by Canadian singer Tate McRae, following from her debut album i used to think i could fly. McRae said in an interview with Rolling Stone that the last year has been driven more by her intuition, and she hopes fans can feel that in the music as it covers themes of falling in love and the raw emotions that come with. The album has a total of fourteen songs with two pre-release singles: exes and greedy. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prima Facie - Suzie Miller Tessa is a thoroughbred. A young, brilliant barrister from a working-class background now at the top of her game: defending, cross-examining and lighting up the shadows of doubt in any case. The law is a game and she is its most talented player. One sickening night, though, Tessa finds herself in a position countless women - one in three - have been in before her. And she's faced with a gut-wrenching, life-changing decision. Will she take the stand to testify about her rape, with the full awareness that the system has not been built to protect her? Being Henry: The Fonz . . . and Beyond - Henry Winkler Henry Winkler, launched into prominence as "The Fonz" in the beloved Happy Days, has transcended the role that made him who he is. Brilliant, funny, and widely-regarded as the nicest man in Hollywood (though he would be the first to tell you that it's simply not the case, he's really just grateful to be here), Henry shares in this achingly vulnerable memoir the disheartening truth of his childhood, the difficulties of a life with severe dyslexia, the pressures of a role that takes on a life of its own, and the path forward once your wildest dream seems behind you. Since the glorious era of Happy Days fame, Henry has endeared himself to a new generation with roles in such adored shows as Arrested Development, Parks and Recreation, and Barry, where he's been revealed as an actor with immense depth and pathos, a departure from the period of his life when he was so distinctly typecast as The Fonz, he could hardly find work. Filled with profound heart, charm, and self-deprecating humor, Being Henry is a memoir about so much more than a life in Hollywood and the curse of stardom. It is a meaningful testament to the power of sharing truth and kindness and of finding fulfillment within yourself. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our modern society there are two qualities which we’re always told to value that are seemingly at odds with each other: productivity and wellbeing. Lauren Parsons has spent her career working out how best to balance them. In her book, ‘Thriving leaders, thriving teams’ Lauren hits on the keys to shaping a positive energised workplace culture. Lauren’s just earned herself the ‘Keynote speaker of the year award’ and ‘Educator of the Year’ for 2023. Lauren Parsons joined Jack Tame to discuss her work. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"It was recently crowned New Zealand’s leading hotel at the 30th Annual World Travel Awards, beating out 11 other big-name hotels in Auckland, Wellington and Queenstown. So what is all the fuss about? Does it really live up to all the hype? Channelling my inner-Curious George, I zipped to Queenstown to sample the supreme comforts of The Rees Hotel." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of Hannah's key lessons (and an important point we make to all of their clients) is that financial progress shouldn't wait for perfect conditions. When life gets uncertain and throws a curveball, that’s the exact time financial opportunities tend to reveal themselves - ironically, at the least opportune moment. After the year that's been, we can probably all relate to that feeling! So the question becomes: If financial opportunity presented itself, would you see it for what it is, or would it simply pass you by? Our experience with clients would suggest the latter. So in the current climate where the high cost of living does not want to budge, where interest rates remain painfully high and many of us are due to refix if we haven't already, why is Hannah so optimistic? What are the opportunities she's seeing on the horizon and how do we see it for what it is and take advantage of it? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Beef The dark comedy about two Americans who begin to obsess over a road rage incident and let it slowly consume their everyday lives (Netflix). Happy Valley The third and final season of the superb British drama featuring Sarah Lancashire as police officer Catherine Cawood (TVNZ+). Jury Duty The unique documentary-style comedy series that shares the inner workings of an American jury trial through the eyes of one unknowing juror (Amazon Prime Video). LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dicks: The Musical Two self-obsessed businessmen discover they're long-lost identical twins and come together to plot the reunion of their eccentric, divorced parents. Next Goal Wins With the 2014 World Cup qualifiers approaching, down-on-his-luck coach Thomas Rongen tries to turn the American Samoa soccer team into winners. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year for many, but it's also the most wasteful. Kate 'Ethically Kate' Hall has a few tips for making sustainable choices this holiday season: -Shop local, buy from small vendors at Christmas or farmers markets -Consider making food the present or focus to reduce pointless gifts -Serve less meat, or pick meat that is sustainable sourced (e.g. Premium Game, the only wild meat hunted in NZ) -BYO takeaway containers to your Holiday events to reduce food waste -Use reusables instead of single use for your cutlery, dishes, etc. -Gift your leftovers to local food pantries or community groups LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parasites… Bodies everywhere!!! This is the time to take a good look at the small critters in your garden. You may go on holiday and need someone to control the “pests” on your plants, crops and fruit trees. We are talking predators, but especially parasitoids. The concept of parasitism is not always easy to grasp for non-entomologically inclined people. For starters you’ll need a good set of eyes and in some cases a decent magnifying glass or even a small microscope, to get the picture. So – what is it all about and how do you look for evidence of these clever critters? Parasites are organisms that take advantage of a host, by living off them or even inside them. Usually, parasites don’t necessarily kill their hosts directly (think: headlice, tapeworm, ticks, fleas, mosquitoes, scabies, etc). Parasitoids, however, tend to be fatal to our plant pests and other small creatures that live in our garden environment. The reason is simple: the larval stages of the parasitoids develop inside the host, and this causes internal destruction (remember Alien?). Most parasitoids are members of the wasp order, but they don’t really look like the common and German wasps. Parasitic wasps are often quite small and reminiscent of winged ants. Their size and insignificant black and brown colouring makes them hard to detect and identify as a “goodie”, so it may be more advantageous to keep an eye out for the, shall we say, results of their efforts. On cabbages, cauliflowers, broccoli and such crops, the caterpillars of white butterflies cause many chewing holes. Small, 2-3 mm parasitoids (Cotesia glomerata) lay a number of eggs inside the living caterpillars; these eggs hatch into hungry grubs that take very little time to completely clean out the fluids, meat and musculature inside the hapless larva. When the grubs emerge from the dying host, they spin silken cocoons inside which they pupate. These creamy-white cocoons are a dead give-away for the presence of useful parasites in the cabbage patch. Of course, the message is obvious: don’t spray insecticides, as you’ll certainly kill the small black wasps that come out of those white cocoons! Parasitoids tend to be specialised in their job. There’s another species of small, black wasp (Pteromalus puparum) that likes to lay its eggs inside the chrysalis of the white butterfly. Evidence of this bodysnatching is the perfectly round emergence holes in the skin of an otherwise empty pupal case: the parasitoids will have left the cramped conditions inside that host already and are looking for more victims. Sometimes parasitoids species aim for an even smaller abode: imagine completing your entire life cycle inside an aphid. Yet there are tiny parasitic wasps that do just that. The adult wasps may be the size of flying dust, but the clobbered aphid is very easy to spot. Parasitised aphids are generally referred to as “mummies”: slightly bloated and discoloured with a parchment texture, they truly stand out from the crowd. Check out your roses, swan plants or any other aphid-infested plant for that matter. Mummies means parasitism is lending a helping hand in your garden and insecticides would do more damage than good. There are even parasitoids that develop inside the eggs of their host insects: A good example is the famous Trissolcus basalis wasp that hunts for the beautifully arranged egg clusters of our stinky green vegetable bug. When she has found such an omelette of opportunity, the female Trissolcus will lay one egg in just about every green vegetable bug egg in the cluster. She then wipes her abdomen over the finished job, to lay down a chemical scent or marker that will deter other Trissolcus females parasitising the same cluster of eggs, which makes sense: the space inside a green vegetable bug egg is just enough for the development of one parasitoids, not two. This, indeed, is a small world! To keep it ticking over in your garden: -Don’t spray insecticides. -Attract parasitoids by planting flowering plants with nectar for the adults. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's coming December 14th. Threads has been slowly launching features: it now has hashtags (and even emoji hashtags), a web app, polls, an edit button, the ability to view a 'for you' feed and most recent threads, and they're testing "trending hashtags" in Australia. Threads is reportedly struggling with some stats, indicating it's down 80% from its launch peak. Threads almost wasn't called Threads. "Epigram" was a popular name internally at Meta. The project's codename was "Textagram". LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A beef fillet is as impressive as it is easy to cook and serve for a crowd. Get your butcher to prepare the eye fillet, removing silver skin and tying with kitchen string at 5cm intervals. This is for even cooking and ease of slicing. Serves 10-12 Ingredients 2-2.3kg beef eye fillet 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 teaspoons sea salt 4 tablespoons each fresh thyme and rosemary leaves 1 teaspoon chilli flakes 3 teaspoons cracked black pepper 1 whole garlic bulb, broken into cloves 500g vine tomatoes 1/3 cup store-bought Mustard tarragon crème ½ cup crème fraiche or sour cream 2 tablespoons hot mustard Small handful fresh tarragon leaves, or 1 tablespoon dried ¼ cup olive oil ½ teaspoon sea salt Method 1. Allow beef fillet to come to near-room temperature before cooking. Rub with oil then sprinkle liberally with salt. 2. Preheat oven to 200 C and place a large shallow roasting dish in to preheat. 3. Place fillet in the hot oven dish and sear on stove top until browned on all sides. Add garlic cloves and tomatoes to the dish before putting in the oven for 30 minutes. 4. Chop fresh herbs on a large chopping board and add chilli flakes and pepper. Remove beef fillet and use tongs to roll hot fillet in herbs and pepper before returning to the oven. Keep checking every 5 minutes for doneness - when cooked to medium-rare it ought to have tightened somewhat but still have some give in it when poked with your finger. Remove fillet, cover with foil then a folded tea towel and rest for 20 minutes before slicing. 5. Make the crème by whisking all ingredients together to a smooth sauce. 6. Serve beef drizzled with pan juices and with oven roasted tomatoes and garlic with mustard crème and pesto. Nici’s Note: When cooking beef to perfection I use the rule of roasting for approx. 12 minutes per 500g for medium rare or 16 minutes for medium. Whole beef fillet can be cooked a day out and then warmed through in a 160 C oven for 20 minutes, before slicing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.