Darren Bevan: Movies

AT THE CINEMA

The big film is LEGEND OF TARZAN starring Alexander Skarsgard, Margot Robbie, Samuel L Jackson - Darren’s verdict: Give it a miss: http://bit.ly/tarzan-review

The big one to miss is CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE starring Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Amy Ryan - Darren’s verdict: Give it a miss: http://bit.ly/central-intelligence-review

And the big surprise at the cinema is SING STREET - Darren’s verdict: Rush to see it! http://bit.ly/sing-street-review

For all Darren's reviews and info go to Darren's blog  http://www.darrens-world-of-entertainment.blogspot.co.nz/

NICI WICKES: Food

A sneak preview of the Dish Nici is cooking at the Gisborne Food Festival.  The theme is Wild out East so Nici will be cooking a venision dish: Oregano & Black Pepper Venison with Beetroot Relish.

The recipe is on our website and for more inspiration visit  http://www.niciwickes.com/  or her Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/#!/niciwickes

LYNDA HALLINAN: Gardening

Frosts - After an incredibly mild (if wet) start to winter, Jack Frost dumped a flurry of ice on my garden last night. 

Frosts are good and bad news for gardeners. They're good because they wipe out insect pests intent on overwintering, and clean up the last of the tired summer growth on perennials. A hard frost also helps break up lumpy soils and improves soil condition.

Frosts are seriously bad for citrus, however. Last night I threw old op-shop woollen blankets & vintage thermal curtains over my most tender varieties, but I forgot about the new kaffir lime tree waiting for planting in my nursery, so that will be the end of that! 

The key to minimising frost damage is to try to slow the thaw of crystals - as they thaw, they crack open plant cells - so if a frost catches you unawares and you have tender plants exposed, whip up and cover them in the morning with a sheet or sheets of newspaper. 

To protect plants from frost on cold, clear nights, cover with frost cloth (you can buy this by the metre from garden centres) or spray with an organic wax-based coat of Liquid Frost Cloth. I have a bottle on my shelf but don't have a spray-safe sprayer - if you have a husband who pinches your garden gear for his own projects it's worth keeping a small knapsack of your own. I'm going to buy one today!

BOB CAMPBELL: Wine

Wine of the week:    Blandy’s Malmsey 10 year-old Madeira, normally $99 but I got a bargain from Glengarry for the giveaway price of $65.99.

Visit Bob's website with over  22,000 wine reviews!  http://bobcampbell.nz/

MIKE YARDLEY: Travel

Britain's Best Storybook Destinations.

For more touring tips on bringing Britain's storybooks to life, head to our website www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/travel/

CATHERINE RAYNES: Books

When I Was Invisible by Dorothy Koomson, Random House $37

The Little Pieces of You and Me by Vanessa Greene, Hachette $35

ANDREW DICKENS: Music

Case/Lang/Veirs self titled album - Andrew's verdict: 7/10.

Very nice.  Very tasteful. Lovely bite to the lyrics.  Musically it takes me there but doesn’t quite kick on.  The songs were all co-written but they still sound like their own material.  It’s a 7/10 from me but I know there’s a number of tragic's who think it’s amazing.