Special Guest: Tara Winker

Her book is: How (not) to Start an Orphanage is out now.  Her charity is https://www.cambodianchildrenstrust.org/

Darren Bevan: Movies and DVD

AT THE CINEMA

The Conjuring 2 - Darren's verdict:  A Cautious Rush to see it!

Review - http://bit.ly/the-conjuring2-review 

Now You See Me 2 - Darren's verdict: - Wait for the DVD

Review -  http://bit.ly/now-you-see-me-2-review

DVD

The award winning Room - Darren's verdict: - Rush to see it!

Review: http://bit.ly/room-bluray-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

The ultimate winter warmer of a dish - Slow braised chicken in thyme and wine.  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

Planting Trees:

My three enduring thoughts on my return: (1) how bad is our urban planning compared to spacious cities like Chicago with their wide streets and beautiful vistas, (2) how nice do suburban streets look with their shared front lawns and lack of fences and (3) why are we so afraid of planting big trees beside our houses?

We stayed with some friends in Minnesota and I was really struck by the number of street trees. Every house on the street had at least one tree on the verge, and they were really big trees (full of squirrels). What a difference it makes to the ambience. 

A few suggestions for trees to plant in our front gardens here:

1. Cercis canadensis 'Texas White'. This is the green leafed cousin of the more famous purple-leafed Forest Pansy. It's not a large tree, but a slightly spreading deciduous shade tree. Small white flowers in spring, beautiful heart-shaped foliage. 

2. Maples. Any and all of them. Their autumn colour makes them famous but the fresh new foliage in spring is just as beautiful.

3. Michelias. These have been renamed as magnolias. Look for new hybrids such as candy-pink Fairy Blush. They have scented flowers in late winter or very early spring. Good for privacy and screening.

4. Star magnolias (Magnolia stellata). These are more like shrubs than trees, growing to about 2m. Beautiful flowers in August & they never get out of control.

5. And of course any of our native trees, from titoki to cordylines. Even our forest giants such as kauri and pohutukawa are perfectly acceptable in the city, as they're slow-growing, provided you keep them a good distance from drains, driveways and overhead power lines.  

BOB CAMPBELL: Wine

Wine of the week:

I've just tasted Church Road 2013 Tom Syrah which must rate as one of this country's best red wines. Church Road is part of Pernod Ricard NZ, one of NZ's largest winemakers. Only 150 cases of this wonderfully intense red were made. It's due to be released shortly for the princely sum of $200 a bottle.

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

MIKE YARDLEY: Travel

Introducing Ovation of the Seas!For more insights on Ovation of the Seas from Mike, check out the travel section on our website.
www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/travel/

CATHERINE RAYNES: Books

The Crime Writer by Jill Dawson, Hachette $55

The Watercolourist by Beatrice Masini, MacMillan $35

ANDREW DICKENS: Music

Paul Simon 'Stranger to Stranger' - Andrew's verdict: 9/10

It’s another one knocked out of the park by Paul.  Sonically adventurous, sly humour, rhythmically complex. Compared to the Clapton and Dylan released this past month this is the Sistine Chapel. 9/10