Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

It may be time for all the Christmas treats, but Dr Bryan Betty wants us to keep our sugar intake in check.He's a GP, medical director for the College of GPs and has been talking to Jack Tame. LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re going to be hearing a lot more about the hack of the US government The more details that come out, the worse this is getting. US intelligence says Russian hackers are behind this highly sophisticated attack. How’d they do it? Simply, they managed to first hack and embed malicious code in a trusted piece of software used to manage their IT networks. It was undetected, then activated and started sending data. US government agencies and branches of the military have all been infiltrated. Major Fortune 100 companies are also on the list. President Donald Trump hasn’t addressed this at all. Incoming President Joe Biden is going to need to deal with it. Speaking of hacks.. you have some items we should be adding to our holiday to-do lists + Change your passwords or even better use a password manager - 1Password, LastPass, Dashlane. At bare minimum have three passwords - your email password, a different password for important services, then a password for less important services. + Turn on 2 Factor Authentication on your email account. Remember that if someone can get into your email, they can then reset any account on any service where you use that email address. You should use 2 Factor Authentication on any service that allows it. + Make sure your files are backed up. Look into services such as Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, Dropbox to store copies online. Get an external hard drive, fill it up, and store it somewhere secure that’s not your house. LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bridgerton: Shonda Rhimes’ first Netflix production is a sumptuous period drama set during the Regency era in England, as eight close-knit siblings of the powerful Bridgerton family attempt to find love (Netlfix, Christmas Day). Yellowstone: A modern-day Western about the Dutton family, who control the largest contiguous ranch in the United States. Led by patriarch John Dutton (Kevin Costner), the family must defend their Montana property against land developers, an Indian reservation, and America’s first National Park (Neon, New Years Day). Vicar of Dibley in Lockdown: a special VoD episode where Dawn French reprises her role as Britain's favourite vicar, delivering lockdown sermons to her parishioners via Zoom (New Years Eve, 7pm, TVNZ1). LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’re after some new Christmas music, Delta Goodrem is here to deliver. She spent lockdown looking forward to the festive season with her family, and produced a surprise album of Christmas tunes including original song "Only Santa Knows".She's been speaking to Jack Tame.LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nici Wickes has got a list of things you should have on hand this summer:Dairy Parmesan cheese Greek yoghurt Sour cream / cream cheese / creme fraiche Pantry Olive oil + sesame oil Red wine vinegar Tins of guava, salmon, tomatoes, creamed corn Sushi rice - great for sushi & for rice pudding & risotto Protein Quality sausages Frozen prawns Eggs Veges/Herbs/Fruit Bunches of parsley & coriander - I'll let you know how to store these so they last all summer long Garlic & onions or spring onions Lemons lemons lemons Tomatoes Frozen berries Fresh berries, stonefruit, watermelon Other Flat breads: wraps/tortilla/lebanese bread LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Movie reviewer Francesca Rudkin has been watching Wonder Woman 84, A Call to Spy, Blithe Spirit, and The Thief and the Painter.LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Milne's not so sure 2020 was as bad as we're making out. He's been talking to Jack Tame about some of the good things that came out of this year.LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the end of the nationwide pandemic lockdown, I sat down in my spare bedroom and recorded myself speaking for an hour. Maybe it sounds a bit silly, but I just figured we were living through a fascinating historical moment. I wanted to record my memories and experiences while they were fresh. I dunno; I thought it might help someone’s Year 11 History project in a few decades’ time. 2020. Yep. I was there for that. I think I’ll do the same over my summer break. Record another little spiel with my memories of 2020. Because I feel that stuff I had a great moment yesterday afternoon, luxuriating in the heat of Auckland’s summer sun in the centre of the Viaduct, with hundreds of people who’d come down to enjoy the America’s Cup. I sent a photo to friends overseas of Kiwi crowds, unmasked, sitting shoulder-to-shoulder eating ice cream and enjoying spectacular racing. ‘Summer in New Zealand!’ I said. ‘I’m so jealous.’ Said my friend in New York. ‘That looks amazing.’ Most Americans can only dream of safely moving through crowds, but even in the worst-hit country, there is reason for optimism. It turns out my friend had her own bit of news. As a frontline health worker in a Manhattan hospital, she’s scheduled to receive her first dose of the Pfizer vaccine on Tuesday this week. America is staring down a bleak winter, no doubt. But maybe, she said, this is the beginning of the end. So what have we learnt from this year? In what ways are we wiser than at this time last year? For me the single biggest takeaway from Covid-19 is that for many of us the pandemic brought our priorities more sharply into focus. This year has made think a little more than I did 12 months ago, about the life I actually want to live, and the people who are most important to me. I dunno about you, but when life is normal, with the normal freedom we enjoy, I get kind of caught up in the noise and momentum and inertia of working and eating and sleeping, without actually pausing to consider how I want to live my best life and if I’m prioritising the right things. I’m not saying I’m gonna dedicate myself to a monastic existence and write a book on middle-class mindfulness. It was just a shock to me to realise all of the things we take for granted. It was interesting, for example, when the World shut down and all of a sudden I wasn’t able to see them, how much I missed my family and friends… even after only a couple of days. So. How to make sure we change our behaviour, as a result of all of this? It’s actually not that easy… especially when New Zealand’s pretty mint right now. Little changes I guess. I’ve deleted Twitter off my phone. Sure it sounds silly, but I don’t know how many months of my life I’ve lost to mindlessly scrolling through people saying nasty things online. I don’t need that. I’ve started group chats with friends who live overseas, so we’re all still sharing the same in-jokes. I’ll never moan about a long-haul flight ever again! I want to think about some other things, too. Christmas and summer is a good time to take stock. To reset. And as we all bid farewell to the annus horribilis… maybe that’s a good question to ponder. What will your experience in 2020 change about the things your prioritise in 2021, and for the rest of your life?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Music reviewer Estelle Clifford has been listening to the Smashing Pumpkins’ eleventh studio album "Cyr".LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Relationships expert Steven Dromgool has some tips on cultivating gratitude in the festive season. LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Book reviewer Catherine Raynes has been reading The dressmaker of Paris by Georgia Kaufman and Hidden in Plain Sight by Jeffrey Archer.LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Travel writer Mike Yardley has some tips for summer in Cromwell.LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bag moths Ever wondered what it's like, living in a bag? There are many different species that live in bags or cases for prolonged periods of time and the cool thing is, they make those bags themselves. Silk appears to be the material of choice in the majority of bag-builders. That silk can be really strong too. One of the most obvious (up to 80 mm long) insects that shows off its bag in our garden is the native bag moth (Liothula omnivora). They are often found hanging from conifers and hebes, flaxes, tea-tree, willow, cherry, you name it. Their grey cases don’t really move much during the day, but at night the inhabitants cruise the foliage and nibble; creating holes. The bags are constructed “as they go and grow”. Crossed layers of sturdy silk: impenetrable! They also add “camouflage” to the bags: pieces of dead foliage, twigs and other locally-found materials. That can include bits of plastic bags or psychedelic coloured post-it notes (young scientists experimenting with drugs!). The cases protect the caterpillar and also do well as a pupa cocoon for metamorphosis. Their lifecycle is like most Lepidoptera, but females (when they hatch from the pupa) are wingless and flightless and are fertilised by the male moths inside their cases. Males are black and fast-flying moths that detect females via pheromone scent. But the craziest bags around (especially in the North Island) are the pieces of “dirt” that hang from walls, rocks and tree trunks at this time of the year. They are merely 20 mm long and have that untidy look that won’t get them any prizes in Fashion Week. This is the time of the year when they are most commonly seen. These silk bags are adorned with bits of dirt and lichen, wood and grains of sand. Inside, live caterpillars of an Australian moth species by the name of Cebysa leucoteles. It’s a critter that came across the ditch in the nineteen seventies or so, possibly on some agricultural machinery destined for MOTAT museum in Western Springs, Auckland. Cebysa is not like our native bag moth; it does not feed on foliage and it does not leave holes in leaves. Instead, it roams around mouldy old wood and green, algae-ridden trellises or south-facing walls and soffits, covered in slime, moss and algae. Cebysa is the living, breathing and reproducing version of “Wet and Forget”. The adult moths are around in March and they look quite amazing: males: orange brown and fully winged Females are most iridescent blue and bright orange. Their wings are “distorted” and shaped like the elytra of ladybird beetles. They can’t fly at all, but often are found walking fast over pavers, decks and garden soil. Like running jewels! And in the middle of the day! Males will track them down to mate with them. Look out for them, especially in the Auckland suburbs and further afield. LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apple's expensive holiday surprise It was a genuine apple surprise - the AirPod Max headphones were announced on Monday.. just in time for Christmas shopping! But the price tag is wild. Even tech's biggest geeks were shocked at needing to spend $550 on the latest gadget. That's almost the price of the iPhone 11! Don't forget the $35 cable to allow you to plug them into a 3.5mm audio jack. In true Apple style, they don't have a power button. Instead they turn off when they're not on your head and go into an ultra low power mode when in their case. The early reviews so far say they sound as good as other premium headphones.. just that they're more expensive. One reviewer said the aluminium shell looked like plastic - ouch. Cars are driving themselves in San Francisco Cruise, one of the self-driving car ventures, is now testing fully driverless cars in a dense urban environment. There's no one behind the steering wheel, but there is a safety operator in the vehicle who can press an emergency button to stop the car. There's also a team back at HQ watching a live feed who can do the same thing. It's taken over 2 million miles, five years of rigorous testing to get to this point. There are some rules though; there are only allowed to be five driverless vehicles on specified streets, and they can only go 30 mph.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

enable.me's Hannah McQueen has some tips for you, if you're going to put ‘finances’ on your New Year resolution list. If you want more personalised advice, you can get in touch with enable.me at www.enable.me LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Screen Queen Tara Ward has some picks for your weekend watching:Your Honour: Bryan Cranston stars in this drama about a respected judge, who's son is involved in a hit-and-run that leads to a high-stakes game of lies, deceit and impossible choices (Soho/Neon, 15/12). ESPN Films: TVNZ OnDemand welcome a new collection of intriguing sports documentaries, produced by ESPN and following the lives of a variety of renowned athletes (TVNZ OnDemand, from 12/12) Tiny Pretty Things: Netflix’s new drama follows the world of an elite ballet academy, and charts the rise and fall of young adults who live far from their homes, each standing on the verge of greatness or ruin (Netflix 14/12). LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you're looking for something to relax with on Boxing Day, look no further than the new Pixar film Soul. Featuring Kiwi actress Rachel House, it's about a middle-school band teacher whose life hasn't quite gone the way he expected .. until he travels to another realm and discovers "what it means to have soul".The film is released in New Zealand on Disney+.Jack's been talking to Rachel House about being a Disney darling.WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Movie reviewer Francesca Rudkin has been watching Mank, Ava and Amundsen.LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Turkey with kumara & sage stuffing & roasted cherries Turkey sometimes gets a bad rap and I can’t fathom why. Cooked and rested properly it’s a wonderful centrepiece for the festive table and feeds a crowd beautifully. Serves 10-12 Size 3.5-4.5 turkey 1/4 cup olive oil 2 tsp sea salt 2 medium onions, peeled and chopped roughly ½ cup red or white wine or water 2 cups fresh cherries Stuffing 2 cups fresh breadcrumbs 350g kumara, steamed and mashed 1 onion, diced fine 50g melted butter (can use olive oil) 6-8 sage leaves, shredded Handful Italian parsley, chopped roughly 1 tsp salt + ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper Gravy 1/3 cup plain flour ¼ cup red or white wine Water Salt and pepper to taste Heat oven to 200 C. Make the stuffing by mixing all the stuffing together. Prepare the turkey by patting dry cavity and skin with paper towel. Stuff cavity with half the stuffing. Roll remaining stuffing into balls and set aside. Rub oil all over turkey and sprinkle with sea salt. For even cooking, always truss the turkey by which I mean tie its legs together (this helps keep the stuffing in place too) and secure wings into the body too. We chefs have fancy ways to do this (google it if you need a visual) but use kitchen string for the legs and/or tooth picks for wings - both will be removed once cooked so don’t worry too much how neat it looks. Scatter chopped onions in a large, deep roasting dish (one with a lid is even better). Place turkey on the onions, breast side up. Pour wine/water around your bird. Cook for 30 minutes until breast is golden then cover with lid or double layer of foil and continue cooking for however long is recommended on your turkey packaging – usually about 2.5-3 hours for a turkey this size. At 2 hour mark, add in stuffing balls and cherries around the turkey, baste turkey with pan juices and continue cooking, uncovered until cooked through. If breast and tops of drumsticks look to be getting too browned, cover loosely with foil. Once cooked, carefully lift turkey, stuffing balls and cherries out of roasting dish. Rest turkey, breast side down, for at least 15 minutes during which you can make the gravy. Make the gravy; Place roasting dish over medium heat on the stove top. Sprinkle over flour and scrape up all the cooked onions and scrummy bits. I use a fish slice. Pour in wine and let sizzle and simmer for one minute. Add water (start with half a cup) and stir out any lumps as it simmers and thickens, but don’t stress you’ll pour it through a sieve later anyway. Keep adding water bit by bit to get the right consistency. It will need to simmer for at least 10 minutes to fully cook out all the flour. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Strain into a warmed jug/gravy boat to serve. Serve turkey on a large platter with stuffing, cherries and some cooked greens (asparagus of you can still find them or beans) on the side. Enjoy! Nici’s note: The key with breast meat that’s moist and delicious is half in the cooking and half in the carving. Always rest the cooked bird with the breast side down as this enables the juices to run into the breast meat. Then, when ready to carve, remove the breasts and slice across the breast, rather than lengthwise and you’ll end up with lovely tender, juicy sliced turkey. LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’m going to start the show this morning by crossing my fingers and very publicly knocking on wood. I’m not trying to stress you out. I’m not trying to spook anyone. But. Have you imagined what would happen if there was an unexpected outbreak of Covid-19 some time in the next week or two? EEEEE... ! I’m sorry. I’m sorry. It’s a prospect so hideous I hate to even mention it. But it’s a possibility, right? We know our border control measures aren’t 100% fail-proof. And just imagine if the government was forced to decide on another lockdown a few days before Christmas. Something tells me that scenario might test the public faith in the NZ elimination strategy. So for goodness sake, please, don’t get sloppy now... use the Covid app! I understand with Christmas this close why the powers-that-be want to continue our conservative approach when it comes to Covid-19. Kiwis are going to be travelling a lot internally over the next week or two. And I don’t sense that many of us have a big appetite for risk.But after Christmas and into the 2021, our leaders have to make the Trans-Tasman bubble an absolute priority. If it weren’t for Christmas and New Year, there’s little reason it shouldn’t be up and running now.I should say, I’ve been very careful with my words this year. Unlike a lot of my colleagues, I didn’t come on the radio in the early days of this pandemic and say ‘New Zealand’s being crazy... we need to open up now!’ I waited. I respected expertise. And I respected the fact we didn’t know much about Covid-19. But it’s for the same reason I really think we need to get our As into G, after New Year. Epidemiologists here and in Australia – even the more conservatively-minded ones can see little reason why a bubble shouldn’t be established. Our contact-tracing capacity is vastly improved on where it was at the start of the year. The borders are effectively closed. And having been through managed isolation, I think the systems are well established. They’re pretty solid.But it’s not rational to use all of that resource on people arriving from places where there is little or no Covid-19. My aunt has just returned from Australia and spent two weeks in managed isolation. You can’t tell me she posed a bigger threat than the people on my plane arriving from the United States. So why would we treat her the same? We’re on top of things. We are managing the risk. We have the capacity to build nuance into the system. One of the main holdups according to the Prime Minister is Australia’s definition of what qualifies as a Covid-19 hotspot. It would take a state recording 30 cases across three consecutive days for a regional travel ban to be introduced. That means if a state had 28 or 27 cases across three days... hypotethically, people could still travel to New Zealand. But there’s nothing to stop Jacinda Ardern and her advisors setting a different, tougher standard for entry into New Zealand. Why not establish a bubble with the broadly-publicised caveat, that if conditions worsen, the rules might very quickly become more strict. For example, say a state records 15 cases across 3 days... we then require anyone arriving from Australia to self-isolate. That would be part of the deal. People could travel without restrictions, but know that if things get bad, they’d be legally required to self-isolate. If an outbreak is really serious, we go one further. We pause passenger flights until there’s space for travellers coming from Australia to go through the MIQ process again.Obviously, none of these scenarios is ideal. There is risk in every restriction we choose to loosen. But if we can get through Christmas and New Year – knock on wood – it’s time to set our ambitions a little further afield.LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi singer-songwriter Anna Coddington has just released her fourth studio album, Beams, and our music reviewer Estele Clifford has been taking a listen.LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Book reviewer Catherine Raynes has been reading The Searcher by Tania French and Law of Innocence by Michael Connelly.LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mike Yardley has been travelling the Road to Milford, Fiordland.LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Green Gift Guide Studies have shown that 25% of gifts and thrown out between Christmas and New Years’ Day, so lets give things that people can treasure and find useful. Most people already have keep cups and reusable bags in their cars, so here are some new sustainable gift ideas: * Beautiful container with lid that can sit on the kitchen countertop and you put your compost scraps straight into. * Reusable covers for bowls. Often now made with bees wax * Solar powered phone charger * Natural based lip balms, hand creams or other beauty products. * Collection of eco-cleaners. Ecostore does a gift bucket full. Start at the batch and end up using them everywhere .. people need to try to be convinced that they work as well. * Really beautiful shopping produce bags, preferably ones that can fold down and live in your bag or car.* Cookbook looking at no waste, reusing leftovers etc.LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How to avoid mozzies this summerGet rid of stagnant water in gutters and drains, saucers under plant pots, plastic kid’s pools, tarpaulins, dingies, canoes, drill holes in the bottom of tyre swings, and make sure weed mats don’t have ‘ponding’ happening. If you have a swimming pool, keep chlorine up-to-date. Use goldfish in your pond – they eat the mosquitoes’ wrigglers, but don't introduce gambusia (mosquito fish) - they're a terrible exotic pest. Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) granules can kill the wrigglers in ponding sites you cannot manage: use the correct quantity for the size of the water body.But mozzies aren't all badAdult males are ace pollinators. All mosquitoes are great food for: Insectivorous birds like fantails, grey warblers, and swallows; insectivorous insects like dragonflies, robber flies, water boatmen, backswimmers; and food for larval fish species and adult small fishes like frogs and lizards. The “wrigglers” also do a great job eating bacterial slime and other micro-organisms. They keep lakes and ponds clear and clean, with less pollution. Overall I reckon they do a great job and the least we can do is make the charitable donation of a few drops of our blood to fuel that whole ecosystem!LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Master of Wine Bob Campbell's Best Buy for the week is the Momo 2020 Organic Rose, Marlborough $19.99.LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your car's license plate could be the next thing to go digital This has been a work in progress since 2009, but now California and Arizona are starting to adopt them. Why head down this road? + They can display messages to other cars to say "I'm stolen". + In the USA, your license plate follows you if you buy a new car, so you could very easily change it to your new one. + It could also broadcast "Amber Alerts" to alert motorists that there is a missing child. They could even broadcast other statewide important messages too, like "wear a mask" as is currently displayed on many electronic road signs today. If this catches on, you might even be able to buy your next car with built in digital plates. No more ugly add ons, they could be sleek and part of the design. Apple's self-designed processor is blazing fast This really is the next chapter of Apple's computers. The iPhone and iPad have been made possible thanks to Apple's self-made chips, and now they're coming to their computer lineup. It's impressing the tech community. The new chip delivers better processing performance than a fully tricked out $6,000 MacBook Pro using an old chip. It also runs cooler and uses less battery. The challenge is that all the software that currently runs on Macs but won't work natively on this new laptop until its been redeveloped, so it may pay to be a second or third adopter, rather than a first. It also means that iOS and Mac apps will be able to run cross-platform which will make app development more efficient. Twitter is ditching its conversations view They've been trying to make it easier to follow conversations on Twitter - because oftentimes, apart from fun memes and quippy lines, following conversations between two informed people can be super beneficial and enjoyable. But the interface they rolled out to try and do this actually made it harder. So now they're back to the drawing board. LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Being a God in Florida: Kirsten Dunst stars in this dark comedy drama about a minimum-wage water park employee who lies, schemes, and cons her way up the ranks of the cultish, multibillion-dollar pyramid scheme that drove her family to ruin (TVNZ OnDemand). The Wilds - Amazon Prime Video’s new drama which was filmed in and around Auckland and drops on Friday. Coronation Street diamond jubilee: TVNZ celebrate 60 glorious years of Coronation Street with a special week of Coro programming, including a variety of daytime and primetime special episodes for fans of the beloved British drama to enjoy (from Sunday 6 December, TVNZ1) LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s time to accept that Christmas is well and truly on the way. What better way to embrace the spirit of the season, than with a heart-warming sequel to 'A Street Cat Named Bob' - 'A Christmas Gift From Bob'. It's the story about a world-famous street cat and his owner, James Bowen. For those unaware of their story, James was fighting a drug addiction and surviving as a busker. Then, a video of him playing with Bob on his shoulders went viral. He was approached to write a book, which sold 8 million copies. He's been speaking to Jack Tame about the journey from homeless man to best-selling books, and two movies. LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Festive Wreath This dessert is always a standout at Christmas and it’s actually very easy to make! Dress it up with whatever gorgeous fruit and berries you fancy to suit your menu. Serves 10-12 7 egg whites 340g caster sugar (about 1 ½ cups + 2 tablespoons) 1 ½ teaspoons vinegar (can use lemon juice but I find vinegar more reliable) Topping 400mls cream, whipped 100g mascarpone 2 teaspoons vanilla extract Fruit – I used strawberries and thinly sliced mango ¼ cup almond flakes or anything else you like (I added pieces of pistachio cranberry nougat) Preheat oven to 130 C. Line a flat tray with baking paper. Draw a 28cm circle on the baking paper. Make the meringue: Beat egg whites until soft peak stage. Add the sugar a tablespoon at a time, beating for about 20 seconds between each addition. It’s important to not rush this phase and to keep beating after all the sugar has been incorporated until it is stiff, glossy and the sugar has dissolved. At this point add the vinegar and beat for 1 minute more. Assemble the wreath: Spoon out large tablespoons of meringue, arranging them to overlap slightly, around the drawn circle, leaving the inner area free. Aim for 12-14 large spoonfuls. Make an indent in each one with the back of the spoon as this is where the whipped cream will sit. Bake for 1.5 hours then leave in the oven to completely cool down. Do not open the oven or you risk the meringue cracking. To serve: Whip the cream with the mascarpone and vanilla and spoon this into the little indents then creative with your toppings. I used thinly sliced mango and strawberries, some flaked almonds and some Christmassy cranberry and pistachio nougat. You could use lemon curd and candied orange, stonefruit and walnut, fresh cherries and dark chocolate…the options are endless! LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Movie reviewer Francescsa Rudkin has been watching Christmas movie Happiest Season, and Miss World comedy-drama Misbehavoiur.LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Milne's worried about the damage done with 'Crate Day' every year - a day when young people get together to drink an entire crate of beer to mark the beginning of sumer. LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’ll take the vaccine. I’ll do it live on telly or live on the radio, if you like. I don’t care if I’m first or last in line. If the health authorities here deem it safe, I will gladly be vaccinated against Covid-19 at the first available opportunity.And you know what? I think most Kiwis will, too.I get it – there is a sense of anxiety in some quarters and in some countries about the safety of the vaccine. Not just with the usual anti-vaxxing crowds, either, but people who are all good with MMR but feel a little nervous about just how quickly the Covid-19 vaccines have been developed. Even Dr. Anthony Fauci managed to contribute to some of the anxieties around the vaccine by undermining the British health regulators who have approved it for distribution.But I feel comfortable. I feel confident. I trust that the incredibly speedy process of development and approval for the Pfizer vaccine in the UK is a product of the unprecedented urgent global demand, rather than shortcuts in the process. I might not be quite so keen to take that Russian vaccine that’s been knocking about, but if the British authorities reckon there one’s ok, that’s good enough for me. It’s clearly going to take a bit more effort in some other countries to get people to agree to be vaccinated. Even in those places hardest hit by the pandemic. Presidents Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton, all say they’ll be vaccinated in public if doing so will help to make Americans more comfortable. The fact they feel that might be necessary speaks to just how much public trust in the American authorities, and trust in scientific expertise, has decayed over the last few years.That’s why I don’t see it being an issue here. Call us a nation of goodie-two-shoes or sheep or whatever you like, but for whatever reason, Kiwis have largely trusted the authorities and valued scientific expertise throughout this pandemic. And I think most of us hobnobbing at cafes this morning, or attending kids’ end-of-year school prizegivings, feel we have been rewarded for that trust.I’m in the somewhat unique position of having spent time this year in New Zealand and several weeks in the U.S as the cases numbers there spiked again. And I can tell you first-hand, that day-to-day life here is vastly more enjoyable right now than it is in the U.S.If trusting our scientists when they say a vaccine is safe, and taking it as soon as its available, means we can lock in regular life… I think most Kiwis will feel the same way I do.They’ll roll up their sleeves – ow! - and get on with it.LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Neem Oil Neem oil has become a popular insecticide and fungicide that is used by many gardeners. It is natural, organic, and relatively safe. It can be used to control or kill a wide range of pests, and it’s available on the NZ market. There are a few different types of Neem Oil and - surprise surprise! – they have different modes of activity and control different organisms in different ways. Neem comes from the neem tree (Azadirachta indica), (India, Sri Lanka, Burma, etc). The tree produces nuts which are ground and cold-pressed to extract their oil. The active ingredient in neem that harms insects is called azadirachtin and the cold press process ensures that it does not degrade. Further processing removes the azadirachtin from the rest of the oil. The remaining oil is called “clarified hydrophobic neem oil”. How does Neem Oil work when sprayed on a plant? Well it may disappoint you, but when the leaves are coated, insects are not killed by the deposit, but it makes the leaves taste bad, so the damage is very much reduced. But when juvenile insects eat the azadirachtin-coated leaves, their metamorphosis can be severely disrupted – they simply can’t shed their skin! That means that neem oil sprays are not a quick fix.Azadirachtin is rapidly degraded in direct sunlight – it last less than a day, although the oily substance itself might linger a lot longer (until it gets washed off by rain). When it comes to systemic activity: azadirachtin does not penetrate the plant very well, but as a soil-drench it appears to be a lot more effective, as long as the soil pH is below 7. It is absorbed by roots. Azadirachtin is not an effective compound on adult insects so if they eat the sprayed plant parts then it’ll be business as usual. There about few hundred insect species that are affected by neem oil sprays – many “don’t give a toss”! Some of the species that are negatively affected are beneficials, such as lacewings, which are inhibited from laying eggs. There are varying efficacy data for all sorts of insects when sprayed with Neem Oil; Whitefly might be OK (but target the underside of the newer leaves!) and aphids tend to suffer as well; hard-bodied and adult insects are largely immune, as are spiders and ants. The Clarified hydrophobic Neem Oil (the stuff without the azadirachtin) is just like any other spraying oil: it suffocates insects when applied in dense-enough quantities to coat most insects. It works against things like scale, mealybugs, leafhoppers, mites, whiteflies and aphids, but it does not control many of the other insects that are controlled by neem oil. It can kill insect eggs. As with all spraying oils: repeated applications are crucial to cover future generations as well. (and remember to thoroughly coat the plants!Neem oil and disease control It’s the oil that does the work by sticking the spores on the leaves and drying them out (preventing spore-germination). What I read in literature is that ordinary conqueror oil does a much better job in sticking the spores to the plants, and a bicarbonate solution works even better! LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Relationship expert Steven Dromgool has some tips on managing pre-Christmas stress. LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Music reviewer Estelle Clifford has been listening to Sam Smith's new album, LoveGoes. LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Catherine Raynes has been reading Stephen Fry's new book Troy, and David Baldacci's Daylight. LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mike Yardley has been on some adventures in Te Anau. FOR TRAVEL TIPS - LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're getting some very positive news around new vaccines for COVID, but the question everyone's asking is when will we get our hands on it? Bryan Betty is Saturday morning's resident GP, as well as Medical Director for the College of GPs and he’s also on the Covid-19 advisory committee. He's been talking to Jack Tame. LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apple's self-designed processor is blazing fast This really is the next chapter of Apple's computers. The iPhone and iPad have been made possible thanks to Apple's self-made chips, and now they're coming to their computer lineup. It's impressing the tech community. The new chip delivers better processing performance than a fully tricked out $6,000 MacBook Pro using an old chip. It also runs cooler and uses less battery. The challenge is that all the software that currently runs on Macs but won't work natively on this new laptop until its been redeveloped, so it may pay to be a second or third adopter, rather than a first. It also means that iOS and Mac apps will be able to run cross-platform which will make app development more efficient. Elon Musk’s wealth continues to grow The SpaceX and Tesla founder has now surpassed Bill Gates, the former Microsoft founder, to be the second richest person on the planet. He’s worth $128 billion - increasing $100 billion this year alone. That’s largely thanks to Tesla’s $400 billion increase in market cap. SpaceX has also had a very successful year sending 6 astronauts to the ISS. It should be noted that Gates would probably have more wealth than Musk if he hadn’t have given so much money to charity. Amazon is starting a pharmacy “Amazon Pharmacy” is licensed for dispensing in all 50 states. Prime members will also be able to get free two-day shipping. You can use your health insurance, or they’ll have 80% discounts available on the retail price of generic drugs - which will likely cause some competition in the market. They’re making it easier to compare prices too. Share prices of pharmacy chains fell on the news. LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Screentime Queen Tara Ward has some good tele for your weekend:Taranaki Hard: a new documentary series. In the heat of the beautiful Taranaki summer, a diverse group of characters all hope 2020 will be their year. Growing up in Waitara comes with as many blessings as there are challenges, and although the young people who live here may be on their own paths, they all share the same spirit of 'going hard' no matter what curveballs may come their way. (Three, Tuesday nights). Industry: A group of young graduates compete for permanent positions at a top investment bank in London, but the boundaries between colleague, friend, lover, and enemy soon blur as they immerse themselves in their new world (Neon, from 2 December). Dash & Lily: A whirlwind Christmas romance builds as cynical Dash and optimistic Lily trade dares, dreams and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations around New York City (Netflix) LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you like a sweet treat like Jack, or got into a bit of baking over lockdown, you might have heard of Kiwi baking legend Bernadette Gee. She was a teenage mother with no formal training. But thanks to a huge online presence and plenty of determination she’s now a caking-making entrepreneur. Bets is the owner of café, cake business, and north auckland destination Magnolia Kitchen. She’s already produced one record-breaking cookbook, and her new book Magnolia Kitchen Design is out now. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Francesca Rudkin has been watching Six60 documentary Till The Lights Go Out and Liam Neeson's new movie Made In Italy. LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Homecoming Ginger Crunch Here’s a treat for Jack as he’s out of MIQ! Ginger sesame crunch Makes 16-20 squares 135g butter, softened ½ cup sugar 2 tbsps brown sugar 1 ½ cups plain flour 1 tsp baking powder 4 tbsps sesame seeds 1 tsp ground ginger Icing 75g butter 1 tbsps golden sugar 1 cup icing sugar, sifted 5 tsps ground ginger Heat oven to 190 C. Line a swiss roll tin with baking paper. To make the base, cream the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add dry ingredients and mix to a stiff dough. Press dough into prepared tin. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown. Make icing by melting butter and golden syrup together. Stir in icing sugar and ground ginger and stir to combine. Pour icing over hot slice and encourage it to spread evenly. Slice when cool and eat!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The dress code for men in the parliamentary chamber is being reconsidered. The current rules say that men should dress in a businesslike way. But what is "businesslike" in 2020?Kevin Milne has been discussing with Jack Tame. LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One person from my plane tested positive for Covid-19. We knew pretty soon thereafter. The day three test results came back and everyone in our MIQ facility got a phone call telling them to stay in their rooms until further notice. No walks in the car park. No trips to the nurse. The poor soul who tested positive was picked up and taken to JetPark in Auckland. The staff called us a couple of hours later and said we were good to resume our normal schedule. I can’t say how typical my experience of MIQ was. People in different facilities in different cities have different experiences.I was at The Distinction hotel in Hamilton, and my experience throughout the two weeks was that the system in that facility was extremely well-organised. Despite the fact everyone when I was there was from the same flight… the hotel divided us into different groups, just as it does when people from different flights have to be separated. Every day, our dinner bag had a little piece of paper with the next day’s schedule. It would tell you what time your group could go for a walk, and what time you had to go and see the nurse to have your temperature taken. The idea was that the groups didn’t cross over each other. Despite living alongside them for two weeks, I wouldn’t recognise the vast majority of people who flew with me back home from the United States.A couple of days after I arrived, I felt a bit phlegmy. This isn’t the sort of thing I would usually burden you with, except that it was interesting to go through the experience in an isolation facility. Basically, it was the sort of sickness I would usually expect after a month of crazy work, two elections, no sleep, and travel around the World. Nonetheless, I told the nurses, and they immediately put me in isolation. For two or three days, I wasn’t allowed to leave my room for anything. A nurse would come up, in full PPE, accompanied by a soldier, to take my temperature and check in on me. Even though I tested negative on my Day three test, I wasn’t allowed to have any washing done or leave my room until my symptoms had gone and the medical staff were satisfied. How did I pass the time? Was it intolerably boring? This is the first question everyone asks. For me, the answer’s no. I had a bit of work to do, but in two weeks. I didn’t actually get half of the stuff done that I’d been planning. I didn’t get through half of my reading or watch half of my shows. And I was never bored. Part of that, was the MIQ kept us pretty busy. Each of our groups was assigned two one-hour walks in the carpark every day. As well as that, you could go for a run in the morning, and at a different time every day you had to go and visit the nurse and have your temperature taken. So, with three meals, on a typical day, my schedule might go like this:6.30am Wake up. 7am. Run in the carpark. 8am. Breakfast in my room. 10am One hour walk in the car park. 12.30 Lunch in my room. 2pm. Visit to the nurses. 4pm One hour walk in the car park. 6pm dinner. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. The walking space was definitely a major bonus of our hotel. I reckon there were people from our flight who probably left isolation fitter than when they arrived. I didn’t, because I was eating everything. The food was plentiful, hot, rich, and tasty. People in my group ordered in Dominoes and KFC. The first week I got a delivery from Countdown with chocolate and lollies. The second week I was feeling a bit guilty, and got fancy yoghurt and fresh blueberries instead. Again, I can only speak for my experience in MIQ. My auntie is in isolation in a fancy downtown Auckland hotel. She doesn’t have opening windows and she has to catch a bus to go for a walk every couple of days. That’d be tough. But here are my overall observations:When an MIQ facility is well-organised just as mine was, there aren’t many chinks in the armour. Yes, there will always be little failings, but at no time in my two weeks in Hamilton did I...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stella Rose Bennett, better known as Benee, was once again the darling of this year’s Aotearoa Music Awards. She once again won all four categories she was nominated in, including the Single of the Year Tui for her song Superlonely. Estelle Clifford's been listening to her new album "Hey u x" which features collaborations with Lily Allen and Grimes. LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Book reviewer Catherine Raynes has been reading No Time Like the Future by Michael J Fox and A Promised Land by Barack Obama.LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vinegar To make wine, the sugar has to be converted to alcohol in a process known as fermentation. After the sealed bottle has been opened, there’s a second kind of fermentation that happens. During this process, the alcohol is turned into acetic acid, the main compound in vinegar. Acetic acid isn’t the only compound in vinegar, but it’s the one that makes vinegar acidic. In fact, with a pH of 2.4, distilled white vinegar is a pretty strong acid, more acidic than coffee or orange juice, but still less acidic than your stomach juices or, say, the liquid inside batteries (luckily). Vinegar’s acidity is what makes it such a good cleaner. Because vinegar is so acidic, it can counteract some icky buildups. It can dissolve away soap scum, brines left by hard water, and glue left behind by stickers. Vinegar is great for giving windows and mirrors (use a combination of vinegar and water and wipe with a newspaper instead of a paper towel to avoid streaks), no-wax floors, and wood paneling or cabinets an extra-clean shine. Another use for vinegar? Getting rid of stubborn stains. Lots of stains, whether from sweaty armpits or grass, are slightly acidic, which means they will dissolve away in the presence of another acid, like vinegar. Cleaner recipes Scented All-Purpose Cleaner One part white vinegar One part water Lemon rind Rosemary sprigs Combine the above ingredients together, pour into a spray bottle, shake, and then let infuse for a week before using. Once done, you can use the natural solution to remove hard water stains, clean trash cans, wipe away wall smudges, and much more. Besides a fresh scent, the lemon rind may help boost cleaning power. Caution: Do not use acidic cleaners on granite, as they will etch the stone. DIY Glass Cleaner 2 cups water 1/2 cup white or cider vinegar 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol 70% concentration 1 to 2 drops of orange essential oil for smell (optional) The next time you need to wash your windows and mirrors, combine these ingredients and pour them in a spray bottle. Hint: Don't clean windows on a hot, sunny day, because the solution will dry too quickly and leave lots of streaks. For mirrors, spray the solution on a paper towel or soft cloth first before wiping. De-clog a drain Clear a stubborn drain by pouring a 1/2 cup of baking soda down it, followed by a 1/2 cup of vinegar Cover with a wet cloth to contain the science fair-like effects (remember DIY volcanoes?). Wait five minutes, then flush with hot water. Stain and smell remover A paste of vinegar and baking soda can dissolve set red wine stains. Vinegar can even get cat or dog urine out of carpets or other cloths and, bonus, that pungent smell can keep pets away from places you don’t want them to go. LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mike Yardley's been celebrating The Best of the Buller region on this week's show. LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.