Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 39, 2021 i Woman's Day Magazine NZ

Strap yourselves in for a bumper issue full of inspiring stories this week. Warning: You may need tissues! First up, I’m incredibly grateful to my brave friend Jay-Jay Feeney for opening up about her experiences dealing with a meth addict, something far too many Kiwis have had to go through. The radio legend is sharing her emotional story in an attempt to break down the shame and stigma so many friends and family members feel, and our writer Annemarie has done an incredible job – check out her words on page 14. Then on page 22, another gorgeous, generous mate of mine, Kimberley Crossman, lifts the lid on the anxiety and depression that have seen her spiral out of control on Celebrity Treasure Island. But rather than dwell on the…

Radio star Jay-Jay Feeney is used to sharing her life on air – from her struggles with infertility and her split from husband Dominic Harvey, to her decision to call time on her long-distance relationship with Algerian boyfriend Minou. Whether talking about styling her new Auckland apartment or confessing to spending $12,000 on UberEats over two years, Jay-Jay is loved by fans for being relatable and authentic. However, there’s one secret that, until now, Jay-Jay, 47, has kept hidden not only from listeners, but even workmates – the heartbreak of having someone very close to her who is addicted to methamphetamine or “P”, which has seen him go in and out of prison many times. “He started a life of crime at around 14,” the More FM host tells Woman’s…

Prince Charles has long declared he could get by in the world without “just about anyone” – except for his longtime senior valet and head of his charity empire, Michael Fawcett. And now the future king is ruing the day he paid tribute to a man who started as the Queen’s footman in 1981, after Michael was forced to step down as head of The Prince’s Foundation amid allegations of misconduct. According to reports, Michael – who is also in charge of Charles’ Scottish B&B Dumfries House – is accused of using his influence to obtain a CBE for Saudi businessman Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz. The Sunday Times reports Mahfouz made large donations to Charles’ charitable interests, though Clarence House insists he had no knowledge of the transactions. “This…

Joe Naufahu would’ve loved to stay longer on Celebrity Treasure Island, explaining, “I’m a competitive person. I had such cool people on my team and I love being in the beautiful north.” But the Game Of Thrones and Head High actor, 43, insists he has no regrets about quitting the show to spend more time with his mother Agnes, 71, who has terminal cancer. “It was a tough decision, but when you’ve got a sick family member, you have to follow your heart,” he tells Woman’s Day. “What I’ve learnt is that time is the most valuable thing.” Agnes was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011 and went into remission, but after Joe signed up for Treasure Island, doctors discovered the disease had returned and spread to her spine.…

JOHN PEARCE No stranger to showbiz, John, 30, has competed in Ninja Warrior and Australia’s Got Talent in previous years, and was also part of the chart-topping boy band Justice Crew, who’ve toured alongside Janet Jackson and One Direction. TSEHAY HAWKINS At just 15, Tsehay is the youngest Wiggles member ever! The award-winning dancer, who was born in Ethiopia and adopted by an Australian family, is also the Australian and World Youth Ladies Salsa and Urban Latin champion. EVIE FERRIS Evie is an Indigenous Australian and a talented ballet dancer – she was the second First Nations woman to have joined The Australian Ballet. In a nod to her ballet heritage, Evie, 24, wears blue ballet shoes to coordinate with her Wiggles shirt. KELLY HAMILTON Formerly a back-up dancer for…

While many of us spent large chunks of last year baking bread and doing puzzles, Kelsi Boocock was busy making her dreams a reality. A competitive swimmer her whole life, the 23-year-old from Auckland’s Hibiscus Coast hoped to one day represent New Zealand at the Olympic Games, but after parting ways with her trusted coach in 2018, the gruelling training sessions started to leave her “crying into my googles” and she realised the sport she once treasured no longer brought her joy. After an agonising deliberation, Kelsi traded in her swimming cap to embrace her other great passion, travel, planning a two-year bucket-list adventure around the world with her partner Andrew Trembath, 24. But a week before the duo were set to leave for their first stop, a three-week hike…

Q Will I ever meet anyone? I have been looking for a partner for so long, but always seem to choose those who use me before disappearing. Feeling lonely MITCHELL SAYS I feel you are a kind and very caring soul, so it’s important that from this day forward you set some boundaries. There is a lovely lady from your mother’s side who is watching over you. She tells me you will meet a wonderful companion and loneliness will be a thing of the past. Q My mama had a horrible death. I was with her and saw the confusion in her eyes. Does she have any words for me? Cheryl MITCHELL SAYS Your mama comes though with so much love for you. She tells me she has found peace…

MONOCHROME Technically, this refers to just one colour and it’s generally considered the safest scheme, particularly when on-selling is a priority. But it needn’t be dull. For example, you might think of that single colour in terms of a gradient and therefore use a cool white in the main bedroom on the walls, with a charcoal on the headboard. Your en suite might feature charcoal or black tiles. Or you could play with lighter versions of your dominant grey. Soften this look with indoor plants – a bit of greenery will help to enliven the space. A RIOT OF COLOUR The key to this seemingly ad hoc scheme is consistency, advises Resene colour consultant Amy Watkins. “If you want to do big, bold colours in different spaces, they need to…

OSSO BUCO WITH HAND-ROLLED GNOCCHI SERVES 4-6 PREP 45 MINS COOK 1½ HOURS • 2 tbsp olive oil • 1kg veal shin (osso buco), portioned • ¾ cup seasoned flour • 2 carrots, chopped • 2 celery stalks, chopped • 1 onion, chopped • 2 garlic cloves, crushed • 2 rosemary sprigs • ½ cup dry white wine • 400g can diced tomatoes • ½ cup beef stock • 1kg desiree potatoes, unpeeled • 1½ cups plain flour, plus extra • 1 egg • 2 tsp salt • chopped parsley, lemon zest, to serve 1 In a large heavy-based saucepan, heat oil on high. Dust veal in flour, shaking off excess. Cook 2-3 mins, each side, until well browned. Remove from pan. 2 Add carrots, celery, onion, garlic and rosemary…

PODCAST THE MALE GAYZ Kiwi comedians Chris Parker (above left) and Eli Matthewson are the perfect lockdown companions as they discuss everything from whether they’re the most famous people at their local gyms, to counting down the top 100 things that made them gay. Homo hilarity! OUT NOW BOOK FREED by EL James Add a bit of excitement to your lfe with the latest edition in the steamy Fifty Shades saga, a retelling of Fifty Shades Freed from Christian Grey’s perspective. It’s the eve of the CEO’s wedding to Anastasia Steele, but will his constant need for control tear them apart before they make it down the aisle? OUT NOW MUSIC CH 1 VS 1 by Cynthia Erivo She’s conquered the stage and the screen, but now the Tony Award-winning…

As a geoscientist with a strong interest in soil science, I have long despaired over the poor regard for, and limited understanding of, this country’s soils (“Down to earth”, September 11). Along with water, soils are the paramount resource and should be treated accordingly, especially those of high class (high versatility). Drs Allan Hewitt and Megan Balks and I recently published The Soils of Aotearoa New Zealand. At the time of its launch, the irreversible loss of high-class soils (only 5% of the country) to urban development, despite regulations to the contrary, attracted attention. The regulatory authorities have allowed substantial losses of 40,000ha annually of soils, many high-class, to urban expansion, industry and lifestyle blocks. To put that figure in perspective, horticulture extends more than 70,000ha in total. High-class soils…

“Dullness is a disease.” – Freddie Mercury “The artist has to live like everybody else.” – Billy Apple “If you see somebody running down the street naked every single day, you stop looking up.” – Stevie Nicks “Common sense is very uncommon.” – Horace Greeley “To be a trophy wife, you have to be a trophy. I am more of a commemorative plaque.” – Ali Wong “Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes.” – Jim Carrey “I have enough money to last the rest of my life, unless I buy something.” – Jackie Mason “A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.” – Phyllis Diller “‘For your own good’ is a persuasive argument that will eventually make man agree to his own destruction.” – Janet Frame,…

One of the side effects in the UK of Covid, or perhaps more specifically the various lockdowns, is that it left many people with a deep desire to get away. I don’t mean on holiday – although there was indeed that yearning – but permanently from where they were. One survey last year, for example, showed that more than 50% of Londoners wanted to move to the countryside. And many did. But for those who didn’t go rural, most just wanted to change their surroundings, having spent too long stuck in the same place. My wife and I fell into both categories, and after searching around most of southern England, we recently ended up moving less than a mile from where we had been. It’s a temporary berth – a…

Those becalmed in lockdown could do worse than swap their jigsaw puzzles for Parliament’s fiendish three-dimensional version, the reform of the Resource Management Act (RMA). Online hearings are under way into the draft of a new law, which will have to mesh in with a companion law on climate change and with numerous other not-quite-finished reforms, including water management, local government and housing acceleration. Confoundingly, what’s being looked at here is an “exposure draft” of the Natural and Built Environments Act (NBEA), which means it’s at a stage where vital pieces of the puzzle are not yet included. So far it’s mostly sky. The environment select committee hearings therefore also offer linguistics experts a unique chance to measure lack of specificity in politicians, bureaucrats and experts. This may be the…

The sight of a Marks & Spencer branch on the high street has for decades been as emblematic of the UK as warm beer in a cosy pub. From clothing and furniture to smoked salmon and champagne, quality and value made M&S one of the UK’s best-loved blue-chip brands. But the British retail terrain has changed greatly in the past couple of decades. Well-known department stores such as House of Fraser and Debenhams went out of business as online fashion empires such as Asos and Boohoo swept the land. And the British took to online grocery shopping more quickly and with greater gusto than anywhere else in Europe. While the French food buyer wants to sniff and peruse their produce before purchase, UK consumers are much more willing to buy…

My food philosophy came from a young age, as my mum always tried to use as many different organic plants in our diet as possible. My philosophy is quite simple: “Eat colourful foods from their natural form and try not to think too much about it.” The following recipe is packed with vegetables and goes down a treat every time. The sweetness of the pineapple pairs perfectly with the salty ingredients. PINEAPPLE FRIED RICE (GLUTEN FREE) 2 cups basmati rice 2 tbsp olive oil 1 onion, diced 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 1 capsicum, seeded and diced 1 carrot, diced 2 spring onions, finely chopped, plus extra for garnish 1 chilli, seeded and thinly sliced 1 tbsp soy sauce or tamari 1 tbsp sesame oil ½ cup peas ½ cup…

How did English end up such a weird soup of spellings and pronunciations, alongside its giant vocabulary and regular grammatical skirmishes? First, we must lay blame with the Romans, the Anglo-Saxons, the Vikings and the Norman French, who all invaded the British Isles over a millennium and forced their words and culture on to the natives. Second, we need to look at the rise of Britain and the US in recent centuries, which in turn tentacled their language, culture and values across the world, while English absorbed new and nuanced terms from where it liked, often keeping spelling intact. Oh, plus the Great Vowel Shift, Flemish printers and 19th-century-grammar purists. Arika Okrent doesn’t get into why English has spread so widely in Highly Irregular: Why tough, through and dough don’t…

Dr Himali McInnes’ THE UNEXPECTED PATIENT (HarperCollins, $36.99) is one of those books that you initially hesitate to pick up and read. The subtitle says it all: “True Kiwi stories of life, death and unforgettable clinical cases”. Do you really want to read 260 pages of never-to-be-forgotten cardiac arrests, diffi cult births, psychiatric trauma and gaping wounds? Of course you do, and McInnes is happy to provide an informed and, if you’ll pardon me, blow-by-blow account of a range of individual clinical cases. These are events that lead to (to use her words) “bad health outcomes”. Encouraged to write, she interviewed patients and medical professionals involved in 14 separate cases. The result is remarkably absorbing, admittedly in a vicarious way. But by book’s end, you can definitely appreciate what “bad…

The Dessner twins, of US band The National, certainly put themselves about a bit. Paris-based guitarist/ producer Bryce is a Yale-graduate composer whose work has been performed by the Kronos Quartet, Paris’ Ensemble InterContemporain and various US orchestras. He has worked with Steve Reich, Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood (The National are sometimes referred to as America’s Radiohead) and Philip Glass; arranged a piece on Paul Simon’s 2018 album In the Blue Light; written film scores (parts of The Revenant); founded the annual avant-garde MusicNOW Festival 15 years ago; curates other festivals and … His brother – Copenhagen-based guitarist/keyboard player Aaron – has produced albums for Sharon Van Etten (Tramp, 2012), Taylor Swift (Folklore and Evermore, both 2020), the UK’s This Is the Kit (aka Kate Stables) and others. He co-owns a…

INAPPROPRIATE AD While watching the film Capote on Māori TV recently, I was appalled that the final ad break occurred at the most inappropriate place in the film. It destroyed the final narrative, not only with its placement but also because of the ad’s grotesque subject in relation to what was happening in the storyline. Catherine MacKenzie (Motueka) SURE SIGNS Like most other Kiwis, I tune in regularly to the box to see the latest on the Covid crisis. But lately I have noticed I am starting to tune out of Dr Ashley Bloomfield in favour of the sign-language signer. The reason has slowly dawned on me. Why wouldn’t I want to look at an attractive young woman pulling faces at me and giving me the fingers? Gerry Brackenbury (Stokes…

‘You’ve got dirt on your face,” said Michele. I had not. What I actually had on my face was my secret lock-down project: a moustache. I am not sure how the thought took hold about attempting one, but sometime during the first dreary, scary week of Level 4, I realised that here, at last, was the mo-growing opportunity I had been waiting for. For years, I have admired moustaches on others and daydreamed of sporting a handsome one myself, but never found quite the right time to chance its growing. Thanks to lockdown, I will finally find out what happens when wild fantasy meets cold reality. What happens if the end result is an abomination that you’ve already inflicted on passers-by? My logic was this. While a finished moustache can…

Riding on a wave Spencer star Kristen Stewart happily greeted her fans, while Anya Taylor-Joy arrived in style to the Venice Film Festival. Glam girls Kate Hudson and Demi Moore were vying for the hottest actress award at the Celebration of Women in Cinema gala! Sequin dream She was there to promote her new miniseries Scenes From A Marriage, but Jessica Chastain stole the show in her dazzling gowns. Sibling support! Jake Gyllenhaal played the role of supportive brother when Maggie’s new drama premiered at the festival. A proud dad! When Ella Bleu Travolta wrapped her first major film, Get Lost, in Budapest, her famous dad John was right by her side to help the 21-year-old celebrate! Tum-thing to tell us There’s a second Jenner-ation on the way! Cosmetics…

The Duchess of Sussex left England in a huff in March 2020, jumping on a plane back to North America before the pews at Westminster Abbey had cooled after her final public engagement – the Queen’s Commonwealth Day service. Since then, those close to Meghan, 40, have repeatedly insinuated that they “doubt she’ll ever go back to the UK again, after all she’s endured at the hands of the royal family”. And from the palace point of view, there was “widespread relief” that she didn’t accompany her husband on his two trips home this year, “because she’d have made it all about her”. So it was with great surprise in the face of such two-sided hostility that palace aides are said to have recently received a request from Meghan and…

Back in 2017 when Uma Thurman dragged Elle Macpherson into her custody battle against their mutual ex, Arpad “Arki” Busson, it seemed the women were destined to be enemies. Sources say Elle was “not thrilled” when Uma, in her bid to prove Arpad was a “deadbeat dad” to their daughter Luna, insisted the multimillionaire used to “threaten” the Aussie supermodel during their own relationship. KEEPING AMIABLE “Arpad denied it and Elle stood by him – she was horrified that Uma would drag her into the whole sorry mess when she’s just focused on keeping things sweet with Arki for the sake of her sons,” our source says, referring to Flynn, 23, and Cy, 18. “But in the past year or so, Elle’s found herself warming to Uma – they’ve actually…

When Woman’s Day spoke to radio diva Tegan Yorwarth the day before Celebrity Treasure Island started filming, she was “a little bit worried” that she might have to go for up to a month without her phone. However, a long spell offline would now be a blessing for the Mai FM presenter, 24, who was last week attacked by Instagram trolls commenting on her weight and calling her a “slob”. “I was shocked and upset,” shares Tegan, who admits to gaining 10kg in the past year. “As soon as the dust settled, I had a laugh about it online, but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to looking in the mirror and asking myself, ‘Have I been eating too much KFC?’ “I’m confident and I love the body I’m…

Hugh Jackman thanked fans last week for their support, after the death of his beloved dad Christopher Jackman on Father’s Day at the age of 84. “Your heartfelt messages, love and prayers are being felt. Thank you all so much Love, HJ,” the Aussie actor wrote on his Instagram story on September 7. The actor’s celebrity pals also rallied around the 52-year-old star, following the tragic news. “I was lucky to have met him,” commented Ryan Reynolds. “So sorry Hugh. Sending love,” wrote fellow Aussie Naomi Watts. “My Dad was, in a word, extraordinary,” wrote the New York-based star, who returned to Sydney for a fleeting visit in June. “He devoted his life to his family, his work and his faith. I pray he is now at peace with God.”…

Since scooping the biggest haul ever in The Block NZ history back in 2016, Emmett Vallender and his best pal Sam Cable have done pretty much everything together. The reality TV winners locked their $480k prize into a shared vault for their joint property ventures, both got job offers and moved from Wellington to Auckland, both found the loves of their lives in the City of Sails, and both bought houses and got engaged last year. They also bought a gin bar together and will be each other’s best men at their respective weddings. And now Palmerston North farm boy Emmett is proud to be following hotly on Sam’s heels with the news that he and his fiancée Zigie Wightman are going to be first-time parents. And just like his…

As the lift doors to the children’s cancer ward at Melbourne’s Monash Hospital opened, doctors and nurses were greeted by the sight of a smiling young boy dancing around inside. “It’s party in the elevator time,” Noah Dennaoui chimed as his mum filmed on her phone, a grin also across her face. Later on, the pair uploaded the fun clip to TikTok, where the adorable eight-year-old has won a fanbase of followers. But behind their smiles is the harrowing reason why Noah has been posting on social media – for the past 18 months, he’s been in the fight of his life. SHOCK DIAGNOSIS In November 2019, Noah was diagnosed with anaplastic large cell lymphoma, a rare type of the blood cancer non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It was a diagnosis that stunned…

Spot on! AMANDA SAYS Ziva comes through and tells me she is indeed very much alive and well. She tells me she’s a large dog and very vocal and loves to have a chat. She does not apologise for being rather noisy at times. She tells me she came in as a puppy. She loves her family including her brother, her dad and the cat, but the kitty, Satch, always tells her to get lost, “Satch is not really very sociable and lets me know he is not interested in talking to me.” Ziva said at the old house she used to go to the beach a lot but now they go to a park, which she doesn’t mind at all. She tells me she just loves chicken and she’d…

Forest bathing is the translation of the Japanese term shinrinyoku – shinrin meaning forest and yoku meaning bath. It is the wellness experience of soaking up the environment of the forest, using all five of your senses, says Mayumi Kataoka, certified forest therapy guide and nature photographer. The aim of forest bathing is not to get your heart rate up and exercise like you might during a bushwalk, but rather to slow down and relax, explains Mayumi. “Shinrin-yoku focuses on connecting with nature and feelings of relaxation instead of walking from point A to point B with the purpose of exercise,” she says. “When you slow down, your sense of awareness opens up and you can engage more with nature.” Shinrin-yoku originated in Japan in the 1980s. It was a…

MATTE IS BACK Nothing says “I’ve got my life in control” than a slick of bright red lippie. Swap out your glossy textures for a satin-matte finish to make an even bolder statement. Revlon Super Lustrous Mattes in Ride or Die, $25 SKIN SAVER A toner is the step your skincare might well be missing. Applied after you cleanse and before your serum, this one from Mecca has a glycolic, lactic and salicylic acid combo to clear your skin, control an oily T-zone and hydrate at the same time. Mecca Max Clean Sweep Gentle Exfoliating & Brightening Toner, $17 THE PERFECT ARCH Brow pencils, brow powders and brow mascaras are popular, but say hello to pomades. This creamy, waterproof formula is best applied with an angled brush to stroke onto…

NASI GORENG SERVES 4 PREP 15 MINS COOK 20 MINS • ¼ cup peanut oil • 250g minced pork • 1 tbsp grated fresh ginger • 1 tbsp soy sauce, plus ¼ cup extra • 1 garlic clove, crushed • 1 fresh long red chilli, seeded, finely chopped • 3 tsp cornflour • 225g chopped water chestnuts, drained • 125g canned corn kernels, drained • 1 carrot, finely chopped • 3 x 250g packets microwave jasmine rice • 3 green onions, thinly sliced, plus extra to serve • ¹/ ³ cup kecap manis • 4 eggs • fried shallots, chilli sauce, to serve 1 In a wok or large frying pan, heat half the oil on high. Stir-fry pork, ginger, soy, garlic, chilli and cornflour 4-5 mins until browned, breaking…

What was it like working with Lucy Lawless? Lots of fun! I had a great time on set with all the cast and it was great to reconnect with Lucy after so long. I hadn’t seen her since our Spartacus days! Do you have anything in common with your character? Well, I love food and I was pretty close to setting up my own café at one stage in my life. What was the highlight of filming? Just sitting in the sun outside my café, Reuben’s, down in Auckland’s Westhaven Marina, thinking how lucky I am to be a Kiwi right now, living the best life here in the best city in the world. Apart from Auckland, what’s your favourite spot in Aotearoa? Russell. I have so many fond memories…

Jared fluoro-eto JARED LETO Despite his million-dollar mug being covered, the Dallas Buyers Club actor still ensured that all eyes were on him as he stepped out for a casual, very inconspicuous, stroll in New York. Bird’s-eye view SHARON STONE The iconic actress not only attracted the attention of two hunky male models, she also caught the beady eyes of a gaggle of pigeons in a far-from-glamorous photoshoot for Dolce & Gabbana in Venice. BOTTOMS UP FOR BECKS! DAVID BECKHAM The famous British footballer showed off his bare butt while taking a dip in his pool and his wife Victoria just couldn’t resist sharing it with the world. Can you blame her, though? Look Mum, I’m famous! KARLIE KLOSS The international supermodel caught sight of herself while out for a…

Letters to the editor {listenerletters@aremedia.co.nz} The Editor, NZ Listener, PO Box 52122, Kingsland, Auckland 1352 • Letters must be under 300 words. Preference is given to shorter letters. • A writer’s full residential address is required on all letters, including emails. A phone number can be helpful. • Pen names or letters submitted elsewhere are not acceptable. • We reserve the right to edit or decline letters without explanation. Caption Competition {listenercaption@aremedia.co.nz} TO ENTER Send your captions for the photo above to listenercaption@aremedia.co.nz, with “Caption Competition No 427” in the subject line. Alternatively, entries can be posted to “Caption Competition No 427”, NZ Listener, PO Box 52122, Kingsland, Auckland 1352. Entries must be received by noon, Tuesday, September 21. THE PRIZE Gregor Paul’s book on ex-All Blacks coach Sir Steve…

1. Does a weathervane point to which direction the wind is coming from, or which direction it’s blowing towards? ❑ The direction the wind is coming from ❑ The direction the wind is blowing 2. Which band lost three members in a 1977 plane crash and subsequently disbanded? ❑ Lynyrd Skynyrd ❑ Deep Purple ❑ Creedence Clearwater Revival ❑ Blue Öyster Cult 3. Which of these Tim Burton-directed films does not feature both Helena Bonham Carter and Johnny Depp? ❑ Edward Scissorhands ❑ Sweeney Todd ❑ Alice in Wonderland ❑ Charlie and the Chocolate Factory 4. In Greek mythology, which deity was considered the messenger of the gods and guide for souls into the afterlife? ❑ Hades ❑ Ares ❑ Hermes ❑ Mercury 5. Henry lives in Southland and became…

While I was on a lockdown walk today, a pūkeko strolled past me in the street, looking as if it might nod and suavely wish me kia ora. It was a happy sight. During last year’s Level 4 lockdown, I came upon a horror at the bottom of my road. As a result of the drought, there had been a “dry weather failure” of the drains, and a large number of eels had died in the polluted estuary. It was an awful, depressing scene. I walked away gagging at the stench, feeling genuine anxiety about the future. This year, we have more rain, but the news around the world is so much worse: wild fires, floods, droughts, heatwaves. Climate change has never been more threatening nor more starkly apparent, and…

If you were told you should expect to live to about 80, it would sound like a banal observation because that figure is roughly the average allotment for someone living in the developed world. If it was 28,000 days or 670,000 hours, the numbers would be too large to conceptualise in a meaningful way. But 4000 weeks – that is a novel, graspable and arrestingly short period of time. Which is why it’s the title of Oliver Burkeman’s new book, Four Thousand Weeks: time and how to use it. On my review copy there is a question below the title that asks, “How will you choose to spend yours?” Put like that, it might seem a daunting challenge, as though we’re being asked to cram as many unforgettable experiences and…

EASING CANCER PAIN Cancer patients with a vitamin D deficiency who received supplements during palliative treatment had a reduced need for pain relief and lower levels of fatigue, a controlled trial by researchers at Sweden’s Karolinska Institute has found. Vitamin D deficiency, common among palliative cancer patients, is associated with pain, lowered immunity, fatigue and depression. COLORECTAL CANCER RISK Consuming higher amounts of vitamin D from dietary sources is associated with a lower risk of young-onset colorectal cancer (under 50 years) and fewer precancerous colon polyps, an observational study published in the journal Gastroenterology has found. Interestingly, vitamin D supplements did not appear to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer as much as dietary-sourced vitamin D. However, total vitamin D intake did not seem to alter the risk of colorectal…

Covid lockdowns around the world have triggered interest in “comfort wines” – invariably rich, smooth reds. Bon Appétit says tempranillo, the classic Spanish variety, tastes perfect with beef stew, but also when “burying your face in someone’s shoulder while listening to Leonard Cohen”. Here, malbec is an obvious source of comfort. This old Bordeaux variety is making its presence felt, with 75% of plantings clustered in Hawke’s Bay and most of the rest in Auckland. Known for its brilliant, dense colour, it can be slightly rustic, but its rich, sweet-fruit flavours are seductive. Ash Ridge Premium Estate Hawke’s Bay Malbec 2018 This charming red was estate-grown in the Bridge Pā Triangle and aged in French and American oak barrels. Full-coloured, it has good intensity of vibrant, plummy, gently spicy flavours,…

Is it possible to overcome the fear of death and learn to live with the knowledge that, as each day passes, we inch closer to the great inevitable? This is just one of many questions ably explored and answered by Australian psychologists Rachel and Ross Menzies in their fascinating and well-researched book Mortals: How the fear of death shaped human society. As the only thinking animal, we find it hard to accept that all our endeavours, the joys and sorrows of life, end up with us, dearly departed, in a box and, soon enough, reduced to ash and dust. The meaninglessness of it all makes no sense and one of the first and most obvious responses is to go into denial: being dead happens to other people – the poor…

Readers were asked to create alternative definitions for words starting with A and F. Carolyn Sutherland from Hamilton starts us off: Antivaxxer (n) – a social outcast. Colin Kemplen from Matamata: Foreplay – the build-up to an exciting game of golf. Blenheim’s Chris Fowles: Arsenal – everything from the waist down. Anne Martin from Helensville: Ample – an apple to be eaten in the morning. Tauranga’s Lesley Alters: Autoimmune – able to resist the endless number of TV ads for new vehicles. Hans Zindel from Palmerston North: Acrostic – an angry parasitic insect. David Wort of Bay of Plenty: Alkali – an unconvincing story told at a police checkpoint. Paul Kelly of Palmerston North: Abacus – anger of Abba fans at the group’s breakup. Aftermath – lunch at school when…

RNZ Concert FREEVIEW 51 SKY 422 iHeartRADIO rnz.co.nz/concert SATURDAY News and Weather 6.00am, 7.00, 8.00, 9.00, noon 6.00 Classic Morning 9.00 Weekend Brunch Noon From the Top 1.00 Onstage 2.00 Worlds of Music with Trevor Reekie 3.00 Afternoons 5.00 Inside Out with Nick Tipping 7.00 Evening Classics 8.00 Music Alive NZ Chamber Soloists: Dark Bright Night – Beethoven: Piano Trio No 5 in D Op 70/1, Ghost; McLeod: Dark Bright Night; Brahms: Piano Quartet No 3 in C minor Op 60, Dimitri Atanassov (violin), NZ Chamber Soloists: Lara Hall (violin), James Tennant (cello), Katherine Austin (piano) (recorded in the Concert Chamber, Auckland) 9.30 Proms 2021 BBC Concert Orchestra & James McVinnie – Glass: Mad Rush; Rautavaara: Cantus arcticus; Weir: Still, Glowing; Pärt: Festina lente; Jóhannsson: Good Night, Day; Messiaen: Livre…

ALBERT’S PUBLIC PLEA ‘CHARLENE, PLEASE COME HOME’ She’s been “grounded” in her native South Africa since mid-May due to health issues, but Princess Charlene of Monaco’s husband Prince Albert has insisted she’s “ready to come home’’. In recent months, the couple’s long separation has prompted numerous split reports in Europe, with claims that Charlene, 43, has “no intention of returning’’ to Monaco. But after visiting Charlene in South Africa with their six-year-old twins, Princess Gabriella and Prince Jacques, Albert, 63, has cast aside those rumours – insisting Charlene will return home as soon as she’s given the all-clear. “She’s jokingly said she’s ready to stow away on a ship to come back to Europe,” Albert said. But just days later, the palace confirmed Charlene had been “taken to hospital after…

When Kimberley Crossman was put up for an elimination challenge on the very first week of Celebrity Treasure Island, the actress had “a very public breakdown”. “As soon as I got in that arena, with everyone looking and all the cameras pointed at me, I had a panic attack,” recalls the former Shortland Street star, 31, who struggles with anxiety and depression. “Normally, if I’m having those feelings of self-doubt or that voice in my head is telling me I’m not good enough, I step away or call a friend, so I can get a handle on my emotions, but in this situation, where I was away from all the comforts of home, like food and sleep, I just spiralled. It was horrible.” Fortunately, though she lost the challenge to…

It’s been eight years since we said goodbye to the Rafter family, but now the much-loved gang is returning home once again in the reboot Back To The Rafters – and its main star, Rebecca Gibney, couldn’t be happier. “It was so wonderful to see everyone again. I have missed not only all of the actors but the characters as well,” Rebecca, 56, tells Woman’s Day. “I love Julie and Dave, so to be reunited with Erik [Thomson] and the cast, it was a such a joy.” Set six years after 2013’s finale – which saw Dave, Julie and daughter Ruby hit the road – the Rafters have taken up residence in a country town and while their new idyllic life is all smooth sailing at the start, it doesn’t…

Virgo AUG 24 – SEP 23 Your problem-solving skills are on point, so dive in. Midweek planning sessions are satisfying, while for creative types, an inventive idea is worth pursuing. Open your mind to new possibilities and set a spring challenge. STAR TIP Sunday’s stars weave a romantic spell. Plan something special. AMY POEHLER The actress has quite an entrepreneurial streak, from founding a youth organisation to opening her own wine store! Libra SEP 24 – OCT 23 As Mars bursts onto centrestage, let your confidence shine, both socially and at work. Things could move quickly this month, so get yourself sorted while you can. Under Thursday’s practical stars, you’ll tick tasks off in no time. Clear the decks, then chase up a few fun-loving friends. STAR TIP Daisies are…

Major or minor? September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month and a reminder to look out for symptoms, especially as they’re often dismissed as something more minor. Prioritising your health is important, even during COVID alert level restrictions, advises Leukaemia & Blood Cancer NZ. If you have experienced a cluster of the following, seek medical advice as a simple blood test may rule out one of the hundreds of different blood cancers… • Regular and frequent fevers or chills • Persistent fatigue, weakness or dizzy spells • Loss of appetite or nausea • Headaches • Unusual bleeding or bruising • Weight loss • Night sweats • Bone or joint pain • Abdominal discomfort • Shortness of breath • Frequent infections • Itchy skin or rash • Swollen lymph nodes in the neck, underarms or groin…

LOADED SPANISH SWEET POTATO SERVES 4 PREP 10 MINS COOK 45 MINS • 4 x small sweet potato (200g each) • 120g chorizo, sliced • 100g chargrilled capsicums, thinly sliced • 100g grated cheese • ¼ cup sour cream • 1 tsp smoked paprika • sliced long green onions, flat-leaf parsley to garnish 1 Preheat oven to 200°C and line an oven tray with baking paper. 2 Place sweet potatoes on tray. Bake 40 mins until cooked and tender, adding chorizo to tray in final 10 mins. 3 Remove potatoes and chorizo from the oven and cut a slit down the centre of potatoes (steam will escape so be careful) making a slight pocket for the filling. 4 Load each sweet potato with slices of hot chorizo and chargrilled capsicum.…

Beef & eggplant burger A healthy alternative to a family favourite SERVES 4 Preheat oven to 220°C. Season 500g cherry tomatoes with salt and pepper. Line baking tray with baking paper and place cherry tomatoes on tray. Heat 5 mins or until skin starts to split. Turn on your grill to medium/high heat. Spray 2 small, thinly sliced eggplants with olive oil and turn over each side until both sides are golden. In a frying pan, grill four beef patties (preferably grass-fed and organic) for 3 mins or for however long you like. Place 4 sourdough buns or rolls onto a serving plate. Divide across 4 rolls – 2 cups fresh lettuce leaves and ¼ cup finely sliced red onion, along with a beef patty and slice of eggplant. Season…

MY TOP PODCAST I follow these Aussie girls who have a health programme called Keep It Cleaner. They do some really cool podcasts about women, health, beauty and mental struggles, which I enjoy. MY ALL-TIME FAVE SHOW This is a hard one! Probably the original Gossip Girl– it was so good! LAST MOVIE I LOVED Finding Dory. MY READING RECOMMENDATION I always recommend Scar Tissue by Anthony Kiedis to everyone who hasn’t read it. I could not put it down! MY MUSIC OBSESSION I’ve been keeping it local and listening to a lot of Fat Freddy’s Drop. MY BEST BINGE-WATCH I don’t have that much time to binge shows, but when we aren’t on charter, I love watching The Crown and Too Hot To Handle.…

By the time you read this, our biggest city may or may not be out of Level 4 lockdown. But it doesn’t really matter, because I’m sure nowhere in Aotearoa will be feeling as if it’s entirely out of the Delta skelter just yet. “We deserve to be with the ones we love and we deserve dignity in death.” I’m one of those odd people who finds lockdown strangely comforting, like a weighted blanket for the soul. But that’s probably because my circumstances suit enforced isolation. I’m well aware many people are not so lucky. For many, the blanket is suffocating, both emotionally and financially, and I have no doubt psychologists are now dealing with far more mental-health problems than they were before Covid came along. This week, our psychology…

‘The artist has to live like everybody else” is a sentence that appeared on many of Billy Apple’s works, but of course the artist has to die, just like everybody else. Apple died early on Monday, September 6 at his home in Auckland, with his wife, Mary, at his bedside. Not many hours before, he’d told her he couldn’t work any more. He’d known his time was running out (he had liver cancer). But there was a lot to do and he was very positive, upbeat, indomitable even. Apple was someone who was always working. But then the time came to stop. Nobody else lived the life he did. First, it was a double life, or two lives, beginning with the birth in Auckland on December 31, 1935 of Barrie…

Most opinion columns in the media, including this one, can tend to take a negative view of the world, so let’s start this one on a positive note. Twice in our country’s recent history, people have been subjected to cruel and vicious acts of terrorism. Twice the police responded unbelievably quickly to the atrocities and undoubtedly saved lives. In London, Paris and the United States, attacks similar to the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings and the recent Auckland supermarket stabbings have shown us that the gunman or knife-wielding assailant was free to carry out his violent acts over a much longer period, with an inevitably worse casualty rate. In the Christchurch massacres, it was eagle-eyed cops rushing to the scene of the tragedy that ensured a speedy halt to the killer’s…

The Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Amendment Act 2018 was intended to break the logjam around medicinal cannabis, legalising and streamlining production here and allowing imports of cannabis-based medicines. For some patients, it has worked well, but in many other respects it is, to put it politely, a work in progress. A key idea for legislators was that if cannabis products were made to the same standards as other prescription medicines, doctors would be more likely to prescribe them. But since the act’s accompanying regulations (administered by the Medicinal Cannabis Agency established within the Ministry of Health) came into force 18 months ago, only one of a cluster of local companies has achieved the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) licence the regulations require. Importers complain that cannabis products prescribed by doctors…

The bestselling Hawke’s Bay author leads a day-long course on how to become a romance writer at the Tauranga Arts Festival on Saturday, October 23. taurangafestival.co.nz I have no idea where my love of creating stories comes from, but my earliest memories of my mother is her sitting reading. A book seemed to be permanently glued to her hands. She encouraged her three girls to read – ferociously. The strongest memory I have of books as a young girl was the thrill I got from jumping into the world of CS Lewis and the Narnia series. Along with The Secret Seven and Nancy Drew, they fed my vivid imagination and helped me develop my interpretation of the many worlds filling my head. I could relate to these stories because they…