Readers Digest NZ 11.2021

NEW ZEALAND

NOVEMBER 2021 | THE WORLD’S BEST LOVED MAGAZINE | readersdigest.co.nz OATUSRARPSOLDTDKOCRASISETSS KR
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BRAIN NOVEMBER 2021 $6.50
GAMES 23
16
That Really Work

PAGE 116

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Sting On Finding
Contentment

PAGE 32

DRAMA
Swept Away
In Rough Sea
Without A Trace

PAGE 60

INSOMNIA & DEPRESSION
Fixing One May Fix The Other

PAGE 92

BLUE FLOWERS
Nature’s Great Mystery

PAGE 134

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CONTENTS

NOVEMBER 2021

Features 26

COVER ILLUSTRATION: HARRY CAMPBELL 26 38 32

earth’s heroes tribute 50

The Monkey In The Name Of art of living
Whisperer Love & Loss
How To Find Peace
Living high in Memorial tattoos are Anytime, Anyplace
Singapore’s treetops a very personal way
is a small colony of to express feelings, Meditation can
rare langurs. Closer honouring and make you happier
to ground, local keeping the and more relaxed.
primatologist Andie memories alive of A former TV
Ang and citizen someone who is no presenter and sceptic
scientists are taking longer here. shares some simple
up the challenge of basics to get you
conservation. CATH JOHNSEN started. DAN HARRIS AND

LAM LYE CHING 46 JEFFREY WARREN WITH
CARLYE ADLER, FROM THE
32 food on your plate BOOK MEDITATION FOR
FIDGETY SKEPTICS
entertainment Cinnamon
readersdigest.co.nz 1
Sting The subject of myths
and legends, this
The hit-making once-highly prized
singer and songwriter spice is now readily
on why he regrets The available to add
Police reunion and warm, floral aromas
loves the freedom of to our everyday
being a solo artist. cooking and baking.

DANNY BOWMAN DIANE GODLEY

ON THE COVER: BRAIN GAMES – PAGE 116

CONTENTS 86

NOVEMBER 2021

74

60 74 86

drama in real life environment then and now

Swept Out To Sea Small Steps Can High Heels
Stop Harming
A scuba diver is Our Oceans Once the strict
pulled out to sea preserve of wealthy
by strong currents, We know plastic is gentlemen, high heels
turning a routine harming marine life. rose to new heights
night dive into a Here are practical with pointy stilettos
terrifying ordeal. lifestyle choices we and towering
consumers can make platforms. ZOË MEUNIER
DIANE GODLEY to reduce our impact.
92
70 ELIZABETH YUKO
health
humour 80
How Insomnia
This Is The photo feature And Depression
Simple Life? Are Linked
An Instant Kick
The delights of Understanding the
country living From dangerous connection between
include borrowing sports to death- the two conditions
the neighbour’s cows defying drops, can help you spot
for milk, gigantic these adrenaline- symptoms to get the
centipedes and fuelled photographs right help. LISA FIELDS
learning that not all are enough to get a
vegetables are rush without even
friendly. leaving home.

PATRICIA PEARSON CORNELIA KUMFERT

2 november 2021

108 134

102 Departments 91
73
quiz the digest
18 Pets
Checkmate! 20 Health
24 News From The
Line up your pieces
and choose your World Of Medicine
game strategy. 129 RD Recommends

DORIS KOCHANEK regulars
6 Editor’s Note
108 8 Letters

travel 12 My Story
16 Smart Animals
There’s Nowhere 56 Look Twice
Like The Outback 73 Quotable Quotes
91 Tell Me Why
Take the ultimate
road trip through the humour
Kimberley to national 44 Life’s Like That
parks, rocky gorges 68 Laughter,
and swimming holes.
The Best Medicine
BOB RAMSAY FROM 100 All In A Day’s Work
CANADIAN GEOGRAPHIC
the genius section
116 134 The Mystery Of

bonus read The Blue Flower
138 Puzzles
Brain Games 141 Trivia
142 Puzzles Answers
The very best training 143 Word Power
exercises to improve
your memory, Follow us @ReadersDigestNewZealand
information-
processing and all- readersdigest.co.nz 3
round thinking.

SARI HARRAR





READER’S DIGEST

EDITOR’S NOTE

Clearer View Of The World

IF YOU’VE EVER TRIED to select the perfect colour
for your interior wall, you’ll appreciate how complex
colours can be. Less so for bees, it seems. This
month’s Genius article, ‘The Mystery Of The Blue
Flower’ (page 134) discusses the fascination humans
have with the colour blue, and why it so rarely
appears in the world of plants and animals. We
have our limited vision perception to blame for
not spotting the full colour spectrum – while for
bees, blue is everywhere.

This month’s ‘Then and Now, High Heels’
(page 86) unearths some historical surprises that
will add nicely to your pool of knowledge – just
perfect for any trivia night. I don’t want to give
too much away, but the fashion trend for shoes
that offer a bird’s-eye view started with a very
colourful character of French history, and has never looked back.

Puzzles are a key part of our magazine and, more than ever, they are also
viewed among health professionals as giving our brain a valuable workout.
Our Bonus Read, ‘Brain Games That Really Work’ (page 116), delves into
different types of puzzles and offers insider tips on how to solve each type.
Whether you’re a wordsmith or a number cruncher, there’s a puzzle type
to help you maintain and build mental clarity and performance.

Also, a special thank you to readers who have sent us comments
about the articles in recent times. We love receiving your feedback.
The November issue has something for every taste and interest in the
household – we hope you enjoy it.

Happy reading, LOUISE WATERSON
Editor-in-Chief

6 november 2021

NEW ZEALAND

NEW ZEALAND

Vol. 201 OATUSRARPSOLDTDKOCRASISETSS R K
No. 1195 SD
November 2021 BRAIN NOW
GAMES INCLUDES
EDITORIAL 23
Editor-in-Chief Louise Waterson That Really Work 16 FREE
Managing Editor Zoë Meunier DIGITAL
Chief Subeditor Melanie Egan PAGE 116
Art Director Hugh Hanson APP
Senior Art Designer Adele Burley EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW ACCESS
Art Designer Annie Li Sting On Finding
Senior Editor Diane Godley Contentment
Associate Editor Victoria Polzot
PAGE 32
DIGITAL
Head of Digital Content Greg Barton DRAMA
Swept Away
ADVERTISING In Rough Sea
Group Advertising Without A Sign
& Retail Sales Director Sheron White
Advertising Support Manager Rebecca Zhang PAGE 60

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES INSOMNIA & DEPRESSION
Hawkhurst Media Services Yulia Mckenzie Fixing One May Fix The Other
Cell Phone 021969091
Email [email protected] PAGE 92

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READER’S DIGEST

LETTERS

Reader’s Comments
And Opinions

When Love Prevails love is life’s greatest blessing.

‘Will We Ever See Our Child What greater pride and happiness
Again?’ (June) depicts the
traumatic, heart-wrenching can there be for parents than to
ordeal of a young couple, forced to
abandon their newborn second be rewarded with the success of
daughter under China’s strict one-
child policy, 20 years ago. Their their children, and blessed with
unfailing faith was answered
resulting in a joyful reunion with family love? VIMALA THIAGARAJAH
their daughter, now a well-
educated woman living across the
world. Miracles do happen when
true, deep-seated love prevails,
transcending distances thanks to
modern technology, social media
and some kind hearts. Family

Peace On Earth person would be naïve to believe
that humans could evolve to live on
Mike Hilton’s letter (Letters, August) another planet. Our evolution has
rings with so much truth. The so- taken millions of years. As Mike says
called space race will not benefit us – we should be looking for peace on
here on Earth, except to boost the Earth. The world has had enough
ego of the boffins that are spending wars as all they do is kill people.
so much money on it. The average

Let us know if you are moved – or provoked – by any item in the magazine,
share your thoughts. See page 10 for how to join the discussion.

8 november 2021

To this end I believe that someone Letters

of renown should address world FINS ARE NOT AS THEY SEEM

leaders and exhort them to live in We asked you to think up a clever
caption for this photo.
peace with their fellow beings. A
Beneath the icy surface Jaws
good motto would be, ‘Negotiation – was actually a little ‘koi’.

Not Confrontation’. NEIL KEEDLE MICHAEL GOATHAM 

Lighting Up Their Lives This has always got me to the front 
of the queue at feeding time.
Salman’s Mutjaba’s story (‘The
Pandemic Lit Up Our Village’, My  BEVERLY HURST 
Story, September) about how his
village of Shujghal came together Any fin will do.
during the global pandemic to build
a micro hydro power plant, was CLAIRE JOLLIFFE
a stand-out read for me. It made me
think of the trivial things we can Can’t seem to make any friends
anguish over, and things we take since I got this new fin!
for granted in developed nations,
such as the simple act of turning MARTINA MORRISSEY
on a tap or light switch, without
knowing their source or the science Congratulations to this month’s
behind this. Despite suffering the winner, Beverly Hurst.

WIN A PILOT CAPLESS WIN!
FOUNTAIN PEN
CAPTION CONTEST
The best letter each month will
win a Pilot Capless Fountain Pen, Come up with the funniest caption
valued at over $200. The Capless for the above photo and you could win
is the perfect combination
of luxury and ingenious $100. To enter, email
technology, featuring a one- [email protected]
of-a-kind retractable fountain or see details on page 10.
pen nib, durable metal body,
beautiful rhodium accents and
a 14K gold nib. Congratulations
to this month’s winner, Benita
Johannsen.

readersdigest.co.nz 9

READER’S DIGEST READER’S DIGEST SHOP

devastating loss of a loved family For quality products, book sales and more,
member on the job, this hard-working
community persevered and achieved call 0800 400 060 or head to
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CONTRIBUTE
Cool Mint
READERSDIGESTNEWZEALAND
‘Mint, The Coolest of Them All’ (I Am
The Food On Your Plate, September) Anecdotes and Jokes $50-$100
is a good account of its efficacy. Send in your real-life laugh for Life’s
Additionally, mint improves brain Like That or All in a Day’s Work. Got a
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off dead cells, removes dirt from Smart Animals Up to $100
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people with heartburn or gastro-
oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) My Story $400
should not eat mint, according to a Do you have an inspiring or life-
2019 medical review. Peppermint changing tale to tell? Submissions
may soothe an upset stomach, but it must be true.
can also make heartburn worse.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
SYED RIFAQUAT ALI AND READER SUBMISSIONS

Ordinary To Extraordinary Online readersdigest.co.nz/contribute
Email [email protected]
I just loved ‘Extraordinary Uses Mail Editor, Reader’s Digest, PO Box
for Ordinary Things’ (August). 90489, Auckland 1030
Lockdown has given me the time to
sort through my wardrobe – a job I Include your name, address, phone number
usually don’t enjoy because more and email.
often than not, and in spite of my best Letters: We may edit letters and use them in
efforts, a much-loved item of clothing all print and electronic media.
will always be found covered in Submissions: All submissions become our
mould. property on payment and subsequent
publication in the magazine. We may edit and
I have fashioned a dehumidifier fact-check submissions. For terms and
as per your instructions and look conditions, go to www.readersdigest.co.nz/
forward to the results. terms-and-conditions/submission-guidelines.
We cannot return or acknowledge material
BENITA JOHANNSEN not accepted for publication.

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MY STORY

Leaving
New

Zealand
Behind

It’s hard to say goodbye
to a home you never knew

you had before visiting

BY Nico Franks

WHY WOULD ANYONE citizen, I’d never been to Aotearoa ILLUSTRATION: GETTY IMAGES
in their right mind before I arrived there at the start
leave New Zealand of 2021.
right now, home to
Auckland, the world’s ‘most liveable’ A Kiwi passport is arguably one of
city and run by a leader recently the most sought-after items in the
declared by Fortune magazine as the world right now and I have a small
world’s greatest? house in Stratford, New Zealand, to
thank for mine. It was here that my
It’s a question I’ve been asking mum and dad, both Brits, met in the
myself since I returned to the UK at 1980s. Kiwi passports followed their
the end of June; the country where marriage and a few years later my
I was born is registering over 30,000 parents decided to move back to the
new cases of COVID-19 every day north of England to be closer to my
at the moment, while New Zealand, grandparents as they started a family.
where I’d spent 2021, so far remains
pretty much COVID-free. Thirty years later I travelled across
the world in a mask during a global
Despite being a New Zealand pandemic, clutching the small black

12 november 2021

My Story

document that meant I could trade what was essentially 14 days in the
Boris Johnson for Jacinda Ardern – cushiest prison of all time.
the political equivalent of swapping
a dog-eared Magikarp for a shiny My managed isolation flew by as
Charizard in a game of Pokémon. I basked in the summer sunshine
and enjoyed the calm that came
While my colleagues, friends and with relinquishing all decision-
family understandably numbed making responsibility. I learnt how
themselves to the horrors of an to meditate using a show on Netflix
escalating pandemic, I guiltily and pondered life’s big questions:
collapsed into the caring kia ora of a Why did The Chase always seem to
COVID-free utopia, beginning with be on TV whenever I switched it on?
And why were the dating apps now
Nico Franks is a 31-year-old journalist suddenly so full of women holding
now based in the north of England. up large fish?
His hobbies include writing about Leeds
United, making short films and searching On my first day of freedom, a
for the perfect hot sauce. friend took me to Waiheke Island, a
glorious place full of vineyards and
beaches where New Zealand singer-
songwriter Lorde films her music
videos that I had no idea existed,
and part of me still thinks is part of
some elaborate fantasy.

I gorged myself on sparkling rosé
and fresh seafood, intoxicated by
the combination of alcohol and
sheer relief of being able to hear live
music, hug friends and speak freely
to strangers again.

One dilemma I’ve faced
throughout my time in New Zealand
has been how much to post on social
media and the decision I came to
was nothing.

The urge to post pictures at times
was unnervingly strong. But social
media is clearly poison. I don’t think
there’s a way of posting a picture
from on top of a mountain when

readersdigest.co.nz 13

READER’S DIGEST

pretty much everyone you know is The pies are exceptional. But the

stuck indoors, without coming across best thing about New Zealand is

as unbearably smug. how te reo Maˉori and plenty more

Nevertheless, I feel like I almost got aspects of Maˉori, Pasifika and

repetitive strain injury from taking Indigenous cultures are set to have

my phone out of my pocket to snap an ever-greater presence in day-to-

photos of staggeringly stunning day life here in the coming years.

scenery as I explored the country’s And most of the country seems

North and South pretty on board with

Islands. With the PEOPLE WILL their gradual but
borders closed and OFTEN JUST radical re-positioning
New Zealand pretty from an outpost of

much tourist free, I SMILE AT YOU Britain to one of the
had the chance to ON THE STREET biggest islands in the
skydive, bungee jump, South Pacific, as an

swim with dolphins Auckland-based TV

and see glories like producer described it

Milford Sound, to me.

Tongariro National And yet I left them

Park and Mount for Boris Johnson’s

Taranaki without a post-Brexit Britain.

bum bag in sight. As life in the UK gets

I don’t want to make it sound like ever closer to something resembling

life in New Zealand is perfect. The ‘normal’, I’m steeling myself for the

country is plagued by an obsession grind of London life again.

with car ownership, social I am insanely lucky and privileged

inequality exists just as it does to have been able to experience life

in other countries, and everyone in New Zealand for six months.

seems to go to bed at about 9.30pm. But there’s little point in living life

But it’s not far off. without the constraints of COVID-19

For example, many of New if most of the people you love aren’t

Zealand’s public toilets would get there to do it with you. So, for me,

a better hygiene rating than the it’s so long Aotearoa New Zealand,

kitchen of my first London flat and thanks for all the pies.

share. You can confidently leave

your helmet attached to your bike Do you have a tale to tell? We’ll pay
and no one will steal it. People will cash for any original and unpublished
often just smile at you on the street. story we print. See page 10 for details

And the pies. My goodness, the pies. on how to contribute.

14 november 2021

d by New Zealan d by New Zealan
★ ★ ★ 2022 • Vote ders ࠮ 2022 + +
+ + 2022 ࠮ Voteders • 2022 ★ ★ ★
+ +

Discover which products and services provide
New Zealanders with the best quality service

in our 2021 December issue.

For further information please contact Yulia Mckenzie

on 021 969 091 or [email protected]

READER’S DIGEST

SMART ANIMALS

Protecting loved ones is a natural instinct

Simbo the Great school, I was in the living room ILLUSTRATIONS: GETTY IMAGES
writing at my desk. My youngest
USULA P. WIJESURIYA child, who was two at that time, was
sitting on the floor beside me playing
When we decided to adopt a dog, with his toys. There was a gap of
my son, Udaya, aged 12 and an avid about a metre between us. Suddenly
Enid Blyton fan, claimed this dog was Simbo, who was nearby, gave an
going to be his version of Timmy, unusually loud growl and I looked up
the wonder dog from the Famous to see a cobra, about a metre long,
Five books. He named him Simbo slithering along between me and
and took full charge of the cross- my child. I was stunned but Simbo
breed German shepherd; feeding sprang into action. He pounced on
him, brushing him and allowing the cobra, held him by the neck,
him to sleep on his bed. They were just below its outspread hood, and
inseparable. Together they went on
endless treks in our neighbourhood. You could earn cash by telling us
Ours was the ideal location for about the antics of unique pets or
adventures because our house stood wildlife. Turn to page 10 for details
on the banks of a lake with plenty of on how to contribute.
scrub jungle around.

One day, while Udaya was at

16 november 2021

Smart Animals

began dashing it hither and thither. room where she was resting. Tom
It was a mortal battle between snake didn’t know that Mum would be
and dog. home and had let himself in to
‘case out the joint’. My mother
Foolishly, I shouted, “Simbo! screamed in fright, making the lad
Simbo!” For a moment, Simbo lost run for his life.
his concentration to look over at
me and the cobra struck him on As he dashed out, he was beset
the cheek. Both Simbo and the upon by two resident magpies that
cobra died. My foolishness and his my mother, a lover of birds, fed
obedience cost him his life. Simbo and ‘spoke’ to every morning. They
died a hero. dive-bombed him relentlessly
for the 500 metres back to the
Mother’s Guardians boundary fence. The magpies then
returned and took up sentry duty
LESLIE W. JOHN on the cedar tree at our front gate
until we arrived home.
Back in 1945, my mother was
at home alone on our property, Although all was forgiven on our
convalescing after some major part, whenever the lad came over
surgery. It was a Friday, market to our place to kick the football, or
day, and my father had left her to to play quoits and darts with my
go 16 kilometres away to Horsham, brother and me, the magpies would
in regional Victoria, to do the fly down from the tall gum tree and
shopping. My brother and I were take up guard on the cedar tree.
at work and my younger sisters Even if we were home they would
were at school. attack him if he came near the cedar
tree. When he was gone they would
Suddenly, Tom, 16, our next- depart, too.
door neighbour of artful character,
silently appeared in the lounge As the pair grew older, they
continued to always protect my
mother from strangers. They were
Mother’s guardian angels.

brought to you by

www.houseofpets.co.nz

readersdigest.co.nz 17

READER’S DIGEST

PETS

Adding A Chicken
Coop To Your Backyard

Chickens are clean, friendly and reward you with eggs

BY Dr Katrina Warren

RAISING CHICKENS in suburban backyards is steadily
rising in popularity due to the increasing community
interest in sustainable living and people looking for
simple ways to connect with nature. Fun and useful
pets, they help reduce waste by eating food scraps and
provide their owners with nutritious, fresh eggs. While
reasonably low maintenance, chickens still have some
specific care requirements.

Our regular PERMISSION Check with your local authority as rules
pet columnist, differ around keeping chickens. Many do not permit
Dr Katrina Warren, roosters to be kept in residential areas due to the
is an established noise they make.
and trusted GOOD PETS FOR CHILDREN Chickens have their own
animal expert. quirky personalities and help teach children about
the responsibility and routine needed to care for
another living creature. Handle them often and gently
from when they arrive and they should quickly
become comfortable.
HOW MANY TO KEEP? As chickens are flock birds, be sure
to get more than one. Three or four is generally a good
number for an average-sized yard. Each chicken should
have at least one square metre of space, but more space
is always better.
BREEDS Popular chicken breeds for keeping as pets are
the Orpington, Isa Brown, Pekin and Silkie.

18 november 2021

Pets

ACCOMMODATION Chickens Chickens are friendly and affectionate if
need a coop and a safe treated gently from a young age
enclosed area to roam
during the day. The coop helps reduce household waste. They
should be secure to protect should not be fed avocado peel or
them from predators and pits, citrus, onion, garlic, nuts or any
extreme weather. You should human food that is high in fat, sugar
always secure them in their or salt. They love to scratch in the
coop by nightfall. garden and will eat weeds.
MAINTENANCE Chickens bathe
They need at least one themselves by rolling in dust, which
nesting box for every three cleans their feathers. Chickens will
to four hens. Line nest boxes usually create their own dust bath
with bedding such as quality wood area by digging a hole in the dirt,
shavings or straw. Chickens like but you can create a spot for them
to roost so they will also need a by providing fine sand.
perch positioned off the ground and
protected from the elements.
FOOD Chickens are omnivores.
They should be fed a good-
quality commercial poultry pellet
appropriate for their age. This can
be supplemented with fresh fruit
and vegetables. Chickens enjoy table
scraps such as pasta, rice, vegetable
peelings and apple cores, which

SHORT CHECKLIST FOR KEEPING CHICKENS

PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES COOP: Able to be FEEDER: Food trays or WORMER: Every
securely closed, dispensers elevated three months, worming
weather and predator from the ground to liquid can be added to
proofed. prevent soiling. their water.
NESTING BOX: A comfy WATERER: Clean,
place to lay their eggs. fresh water from a EXTERNAL PARASITE
PERCHES: Elevated drinker that attaches
timber with space for to the coop. Their CONTROL: Prevent
chickens’ feet to rest water should be ticks, mites and lice
comfortably. replaced daily. with a dusting powder
or spray them every
2-3 months.

readersdigest.co.nz 19

READER’S DIGEST

HEALTH

Home OPEN YOUR WINDOWS PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES
Truths
The air circulating indoors is up to
We’ve been spending a five times more polluted than what’s
lot of time indoors since wafting around outside.

COVID-19 struck, Pollutants include mould, building
but could we make our materials and products you use
around the home. Fine particles
homes healthier? can get into the lungs, bloodstream
and organs. Poor indoor air quality
BY Susannah Hickling has been linked to asthma, chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease
20 november 2021 (COPD) and even lung cancer.
Ventilate your home as often as
possible.

Health

TAKE OFF YOUR SHOES When BEWARE FLATPACK FURNITURE

you come in from outside, you’re MDF in shelving and modern
tramping all sorts of nasties into furniture often contains
your inner sanctum. Beyond the formaldehyde, a volatile organic
ubiquitous dog mess and chewing compound (VOC) classed as a
gum, your footwear can also carry carcinogen. It’s found in the resin
unhealthy dust from traffic fumes, that binds the wood dust and scrap
oils and other harmful chemicals. together. Whether cancer-causing
Keep your slippers by the front door. or not, formaldehyde has reportedly
been linked with itchy eyes, sore
CURB HOUSEHOLD CHEMICALS throats, wheezing, headaches and
runny noses. To avoid your building
Perhaps less surprisingly, cleaning becoming sick because of MDF, opt
products can also contain noxious for solid wood.
chemicals, giving rise to asthma or
allergies. A Norwegian study found CUT OUT CANDLES Reduce indoor
that women who used cleaning
products regularly had a greater pollution by forgoing scented candles
decline in lung function than those and air fresheners. These release
who were less house-proud. We’re chemicals which turn into our old
not suggesting you keep a dirty friend – formaldehyde – when they
home, but you might want to opt for reach the air. Candles also give off
allergy-friendly products and avoid soot, which, again, is not good for
sprays, which release chemicals into your lungs.
the air and not just onto surfaces.
NEGLECT PERSONAL CARE
CONSIDER WOOD OR TILES
I bet you never thought we’d advise
Carpets harbour germs and you to do that! It’s lovely to look
pollutants, such as dust mites, pet and smell nice, but a 2018 study
dander and pesticides, and catch found that an ingredient commonly
anything that’s floating in the air found in deodorants, shampoos and
in your home – even when you’re lotions, siloxane, gives off emissions
assiduous about vacuuming. The comparable in magnitude to traffic
materials used to make synthetic and considered harmful to health.
carpets and the compounds they Try to restrict your use of these
emit may add to indoor pollution, products or opt for ranges that don’t
triggering or aggravating allergic contain harmful ingredients. Also
reactions, respiratory and heart limit hairspray and spray perfumes,
problems. If you have allergies, as they also emit VOCs and contribute
consider wood flooring or tiles. to potentially toxic air pollution.

readersdigest.co.nz 21

READER’S DIGEST

HEALTH YOU’RE LIFTING HEAVY OBJECTS

Silent You may think it’s harmless to pick
Causes of up one end of the couch while you’re
moving, but that could increase
Haemorrhoids pressure in the rectum, causing
the veins (the haemorrhoidal
BY Jessica Migala plexus) to swell like a balloon,
says gastroenterologist Dr Darren
Brenner. Lifting correctly – with
your legs, not your back – can
help. The same goes for the gym.
Challenge yourself, but make sure
that your workout and weights
match your abilities.

YOU SIT ON THE TOILET FOR
TOO LONG Sitting too long on an

open toilet bowl will cause gravity to
put undue stress on these veins. Take
all the time you need to go, but once
you’re done, flush and head out.

T hree out of four adults YOU MAY NOT BE GETTING ILLUSTRATION: GETTY IMAGES
endure haemorrhoids ENOUGH FIBRE “Consuming an
at some point in their
lives. “Haemorrhoids adequate amount of fibre – whether
are dilated, swollen and through food, supplements, or a
inflamed veins in the rectum,” combination – leads to bulkier stools,
says gastroenterologist Dr David which are then generally softer,”
Greenwald. “They may be explains Dr Greenwald.
asymptomatic or cause discomfort
and occasional bleeding.” YOU HAVE DIARRHOEA Going

Here are some everyday habits that to the toilet multiple times a day
can cause haemorrhoids. can also lead to straining. The fix,
says Dr Brenner, is to address the
underlying cause of your diarrhoea.
It may be viral, irritable bowel
syndrome, medications or a food-
borne illness. Or you may need to
simply regulate your diet.

22 november 2021

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READER’S DIGEST

News From the

WORLD OF MEDICINE

SLEEP APNOEA’S TOLL short-term heart rate varied. Too PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES
ON THE HEART much of this, over time, strains the
cardiovascular system.
As one of the most prevalent sleep
disorders, obstructive sleep apnoea Fortunately, there are treatments
(OSA) affects around one billion that work well for OSA. Mild cases
people worldwide. For those with may improve with lifestyle changes
this condition, the muscles in the such as quitting smoking or shedding
back of the throat relax too much excess weight. For people with more
during sleep, creating a narrowed serious cases, the most effective
passage for air and causing solution is continuous positive airway
breathing to stop and restart. When pressure (CPAP), a machine that
this happens, the sleep cycle gets pumps a constant stream of air into
interrupted. But untreated sleep your throat via a mask.
apnoea may also raise the risk of
dying from heart disease by up to BENEFITS OF REGULAR
five times. MAMMOGRAMS

A recent Finnish study explored If you’ve missed a routine breast-
one of the reasons for this by screening appointment because of
recording OSA patients’ night- the pandemic, schedule one sooner
time heart rhythms. When the rather than later. In a 2020 study of
body runs low on oxygen and Swedish women reported in Cancer,
suddenly awakens, this causes those who’d attended their last
a surge of activity in the
sympathetic nervous two mammograms before a
system – and releases breast cancer diagnosis
stress hormones in were less likely to
the body. The longer be diagnosed with
a participant’s advanced tumours.
breathing was Screening also
interrupted, the faster substantially reduces
their heart raced the risk of having a
and the more their terminal breast cancer
diagnosis.
24 november 2021

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EARTH’S HEROES

MoThne key PHOTOS: COURTESY DR ANDIE ANG; GETTY IMAGES

Whisperer

Andie Ang’s personal interest in monkeys was sparked
when she was a child. Today, the primatologist is a
global expert on one of Singapore’s most delightful
primates, the Raffles’ banded langur

BY Lam Lye Ching

26 november 2021

Endemic to Singapore and
the southern Peninsular
Malaysia, only 70 Raffles’
banded langurs are left in

Singapore

readersdigest.co.nz 27

READER’S DIGEST Society (ACRES). Repatriating an an-
imal to its native country is a compli-
rimatologist and re- cated and costly process. First, Ah Boy
search scientist Andie was moved to Singapore Zoo to start
Ang, PhD, grew up his rehabilitation. ACRES then helped
with an extended fam- Ang with the fundraising, paperwork
ily of animals – cats, and logistics needed to return Ah Boy
dogs, birds and fish to his native Africa, where a new home
awaited him at the Munda Wanga
P filled the family home Wildlife Sanctuary in Zambia.
in Singapore. Then,
in 1995, her father saw some sailors TURNING POINT
mistreating a small young monkey.
Bringing the African vervet monkey In May 2004, after two years of plan-
home, he added it to the family’s me- ning, the day arrived for Ang and Ah
nagerie. Boy to say goodbye. It was a tearful
Just ten at the time, Ang clearly parting for her and involved loads
remembers her excitement on first of photos. Later that day, Ang de-
seeing the golden-furred little mon- termined that she wanted to study
key. She named him Ah Boy and they primates. “The experience made me
soon became close companions. “I want to know more about primates,
would cycle through the neighbour- the threats to them, and how we can
hood and Ah Boy would tag along,” help,” she says.
recalls Ang. “Neighbours would stop
to look and comment,‘Oh, so cute!’” After enrolling in a Life Sciences
Ah Boy ate whatever her mother degree at the National University of
prepared for the family’s lunch and Singapore (NUS), Ang went on to
dinner. He also quickly developed a complete a PhD in Biological An-
daily routine of climbing onto Ang’s thropology with a specialty in Raffles’
shoulders to groom her scalp, me- banded langurs. Also known as the
ticulously pulling her hair apart in Banded Leaf monkey, the black-and-
search of anything that shouldn’t white langurs are endemic to Singa-
have been there. “My scalp was al- pore and the southern Peninsular
ways clean,” she laughs. Malaysia.
But as the years passed, the family
became unable to care for the mon- Critically endangered and elusive,
key, so Ang turned to the internet for langurs have black fur, ivory bands
help. Her search led her to the US- on the underside of their bodies and
based International Primate Protec- limbs, and white rings around their
tion League, who recommended she eyes. When Ang started her doctor-
contact the Singapore-based Animal ate, the species had not been studied
Concerns Research and Education for 15 years.

28 november 2021

Today, she spends hours in Singa- Langurs live in upper tree canopies
pore’s Central Catchment Nature Re- and are very elulsive
serve, where the entire local popula-
tion of Raffles’ banded langurs can be site to find the body. She was hoping
found, doing field research under the to examine it for research purposes;
shady forest canopy. However, find- to take measurements and analyse
ing them has its challenges. “They are the bones.
shy, which means they usually dash
off upon seeing people,” she explains. When they couldn’t find the ani-
mal, they turned their search to “the
“There are only 70 of these langurs next best thing” – blood. After an
left in Singapore, which means that hour of searching, a team member
the chance of spotting one is quite found a scratch on the road similar
low. They are found on the mid- to to the one in the Facebook photo.
high canopy and rarely come down to When they gently dug into the soil,
the ground, making observations very a pebble came loose exposing some
difficult among the foliage.” liquid blood underneath. Dr Ang
brought it back to the lab and the
GATHERING DATA recovery revealed important genetic
markers that she has used to com-
A typical day in the field for Ang pare with DNA samples from the
starts at 7.30am. She searches for the langur droppings.
langurs by scouring under trees for
any sign of droppings to analyse. She The biological samples have al-
then follows and observes them to lowed Ang to update the information
gather information on their diet and on Singapore’s local population of
behaviour. langurs, report on their reproduc-
tive biology and infant development,
“Obtaining genetic data is impor- and learn more about their feeding
tant to help us understand various ecolog y. “This provides valuable
aspects of the species,” Ang says. “We
extract DNA from faecal samples to
study the genetics of the animals,
and to understand their diet and the
general health of the animal.”

Over the years, Ang has had
some unexpected experiences. One
evening, back in 2011, a post ap-
peared on her Facebook feed of a
car accident involving a langur. She
rallied five friends from her NUS lab
and they drove out to the accident

readersdigest.co.nz 29

READER’S DIGEST

information on the species of trees Ang published a paper advocating for

the langurs require to feed and thrive the conservation of a small patch of

for conservation,” she says. forest, at the eastern end of the Cen-

Ang’s research has also confirmed tral Catchment Nature Reserve, from

that the langurs in Singapore and further development. The citizen

those across the Johor Strait, in the scientists had revealed it was a vital

southern Peninsular Malaysia, are feeding ground.

the same subspecies. This has raised In addition, convincing residents

hope of possible trans- BIOLOGICAL who live near the forests
location and reintro- SAMPLES and at times have found
duction of the species PROVIDE monkeys to be aggres-
in both localities for VALUABLE sive hasn’t been easy.
conservation. INFO FOR To help nurture a coex-
CONSERVATION istence, Ang volunteers
COMMUNITY at the Long-tailed Ma-
HELP caque Working Group,
which organises free
Langurs use their long

tails to travel through tri-monthly guided na-

the tree canopies, and strong grasp- ture and monkey walk sessions. Long-

ing hands and feet to forage for fruit tailed macaques, which are smaller

and immature leaves. But the devel- than the langurs, are the other species

opment of the Bukit Timah Express- of monkeys found in Singapore.

way saw their forest homes broken up The working group also identified

with roads. Sadly, a number of lan- and named every monkey living in

gurs were hit by cars while attempt- residential areas. The change in the

ing to cross the road to reach other attitudes of residents was profound.

parts of the forest. They were learning more about ‘An-

In August 2016, Ang started a cit- nette’ and ‘Edgar’, and enjoyed dis-

izen science programme to help covering the monkeys’ individual

monitor the langurs. After a short personalities. They had unwittingly

training session, the citizen scien- become citizen scientists, and com-

tists helped with field observations plaints dropped dramatically.

on weekends for 24 weeks. The data As a result of Ang’s work and grow-

they collected helped local authori- ing support among locals, the com-

ties plan and construct rope bridg- munity has come to better under-

es over roadways in the area for the stand the value of native wildlife. The

langurs to cross safely. future of this small population of Raf-

In May 2020, using additional data fles’ banded langurs has become a lot

collected by the 143 citizen scientists, more certain.

30 november 2021



ENTERTAINMENT

Sting
The singer songwriter finds comfort,
innocence and improvement in life

BY Danny Bowman

H e is Sting, he is Gor- To support this notion is an intrigu- PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES
don Sumner, he is the ing shot taken at the end of The Po-
ex-frontman of The lice’s final gig, held at the Melbourne
Police, one of the most Showgrounds on March 4, 1984.
pioneering bands of the Drummer Stewart Copeland and lead
post-punk era, who sold 75 million re- guitarist Andy Summers stare out into
cords worldwide; he is the man to ask the worshipping crowd knowing the
about a Police reunion, right? Wrong. era of the band had come to a close
just a few moments before; the camera
Asking Sting whether or not the lingers on their faces to capture the
idea of the trio linking hands again emotion of the moment, as the con-
isn’t something the 69-year-old for- gregation pours a sombre, messy mass
mer frontman wants to discuss. of elation and sadness onto the musi-
cians. And then there’s Sting – grate-
It’s not because Sting is particularly ful for the adulation but, instead of
offended by the idea, nor that he has reflective and melancholy like almost
spent the best part of 40 years culti- everyone else in the arena, he’s alive,
vating a reputation as a wholly content excited and focused straight away on
solo artist (although that’s true). the solo experiences he knows he is
going to create for himself.
Perhaps it’s more that he is a cre-
ative type who doesn’t necessarily
crave the company of others.

32 november 2021

readersdigest.co.nz 33

READER’S DIGEST

When the band reformed in 2007 of us – that’s what made it, and it’s

for a somewhat ill-fated reunion, never been as good since. Look at the

although the project replenished tour – we had an incredible turnout all

bank balances, it also cemented the across the world, and no one can do

reality that these were three men that on their own.”

who should leave the past exactly Deep down, you know Summers

where it is. yearns for Sting to feel the same way

“At the time I labelled the tour an he does. Like a scorned lover desper-

exercise in nostalgia, and that was ately trying to convince an ex they still

simply how I felt, and is still how I have feelings towards them. Yet, there

feel today,” Sting begins. “I think it’s are far too many frayed emotional

OK to be honest about your feelings ties to make another reunion a possi-

and that was the way it went for me. bility. And it would be pointless. Not

“That’s not a slight on the people only did the experiment fail, twice, but

I was with or the way things panned Sting is entirely his own man now, to

out; it’s just how I his immense credit –
saw it by the end; Sting’s music has which takes us back
and let’s be hon- crossed multiple to why he wouldn’t
est, that’s not how I genres – rock, want The Police back
wanted to remem- together.
ber it. If I thought pop, folk, reggae
that would be the and new wave “I think there is a
freedom in being a

emotion I’d be leav- solo artist,” he says.

ing with, I wouldn’t “It’s not a power

have done it in the first place.” thing, at all – it’s just about producing

Sting’s bandmates have been sim- exactly the brand and style of music

ilarly non-complementary, not so that feels right for you.

much about the experience, but when “Music, in every form, is a collab-

commenting on their front man’s orative process, but never more so in

aversion to life as a threesome. a band, where you have to consider

“I think it happens to all these white other people almost more than you do

male singers – it’s a classic mistake,” yourself,” he says. “To have total cre-

says Andy Summers. “The singers all ative freedom is, for me, the ultimate

want the solo career – they should go thrill of being a solo artist.”

and do a solo album then go back to So while some have speculated that

the power base where the real chem- Sting’s ego was the thing that broke

istry and magic is, because you’ll up the band, they should perhaps

never get that chemistry and magic note that it’s a character trait that no

again. It was the sound of the three longer seems to be a major factor in

34 november 2021

his life. The songwriter, in

2021, is, ultimately, a man

at peace. He is reflective

and undoubtedly driven by

creative satisfaction rather

than anything cloaked in

industry awards or money.

“It’s great fun to have a

hit record, it really is, but

it’s not why I make re-

cords,” he says. “It’s easy

to get swept along in the

excitement of the charts – Every Breath You Take ... Stewart Copeland, Sting and
a lot more so in the 1980s Andy Summers sold over 75 million records as The Police
than it is today – but I make

records out of love and curiosity, even saw him working on building sites, in

if it’s always nice to have something offices and even as a school teacher.

on the radio.” From early days earning his stripes

around the Polish clubs of his native

FOR SOMEONE WHO THIS YEAR Wallsend on North Tyneside, where

celebrates five decades of song writ- watching bands live could mean

ing, and whose music has crossed dodging punch-ups and the opposite

multiple genres – rock, pop, folk, reg- sex in equal measure, Sting admits he

gae and new wave being in particular struggles with the trend of modern

abundance – Sting’s influences con- era music entertainment where ‘mu-

tinue to harness breadth and bravery. sicians’ are cherry-picked on reality

“When I make a record I want to shows. In a matter of weeks they are

go on a journey,” he says. “I need to transformed to global superstars, and

learn as much about music as the lis- that’s problematic, he says.

tener – that’s really important to me. “I feel the reason a lot of them crash

It’s been a long time since I went into and burn has much to do with the

a project wanting to play it safe,” he way that exposure comes about in the

PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES continues. first place. You can ride the wave for

Sting is a man of culture and influ- a while, but so many of those careers

ence that stretches way beyond the are built on loose foundations, on be-

sound that emanates from a speaker. ing fast-tracked to the top.”

Long before The Police signed their If there was someone who could

first record deal with A&M in 1977, shadow new entrants into the indus-

the musician’s pursuit of experience try, it would be Sting, yet his time is

readersdigest.co.nz 35

WHETHER STING’S re-

gression ends there, we

will have to wait and see.

In recent years there are

hints of a rebelliousness

in collaborations that

imply he’s not willing to

simply fade away; and in

fairness, he never has.

From allowing US rapper

Puff Daddy to sample his

music, to making an en-

tire album with reggae

In 1985 Sting embarked on a solo career, going on to musician Shaggy in 2018,
release a string of highly successful albums to performing with artists

as diverse as Eric Clapton,

best spent elsewhere these days. He Sam Moore and Julio Iglesias – it’s

remains a fierce devotee to philan- all proof of a man still enthralled

thropic causes, with involvement and enchanted with music – and the

with Friends of the Earth, Amnesty world around him, in all its forms.

International, victims of the Septem- “I am a citizen of the world – I vote, I

ber 11 attacks, plus humanitarian pro- pay tax, I’m a dad, I’m a husband,” he

jects in Brazil and Tibet. And in June says. “And this world isn’t any madder

he launched his My Songs tour. In his now than it was before; it’s just that in

spare time he’s even making efforts to the past it was presented to us then

listen to his own music. gone… people didn’t pore over it on

“I do that from time to time, it’s social media for hours and hours. The

true,” he reveals. “It’s much nicer now important thing is we fill our lungs

there is a vinyl revival and we can all and keep breathing it in.”

share in this incredible medium to- Every time Sting speaks his mind

gether. I had the great privilege of put- it is with bruising honesty. These

ting a record on the other day – you days everything he favours is a long

know, taking it out of the sleeve, put- way from those rebellious post-punk PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

ting it on the turntable and lowering a roots – countless musicians half his

needle onto it and hearing that lovely age have long since given up on dis-

noise before the music starts. It’s a covering something new about them-

fantastic ritual that I actually miss so selves, their music and the spaces

much that I’m going to go back to that around us.

– I’m going to go back to vinyl!” For Sting, the search goes on.

36 november 2021

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Robin Bailey had a
memorial tattoo of her
now deceased husband,
Sean Pickwell (left)

38 november 2021

PHOTO: COURTESY ROBIN BAILEY TRIBUTE

In The
Name Of

LOVE
& LOSS

Memorial tattoos are providing comfort to the grieving

BY Cath Johnsen
hortly before Robin Bailey lost
her husband to liver cancer in
2019, she decided to have his
heartbeat rhythm, which had
been captured from an ECG,
tattooed on her arm.
“I’m really proud of it, it’s something that

readersdigest.co.nz 39

READER’S DIGEST

means a lot to me,” the radio host didn’t have long left, but in some way,
from Queensland says. “I’ll often I think we were stamping him on us,
find that when I’m having a bad day and I think he really appreciated it.”
or I’m struggling, which is still a fair
bit, I’ll rub it, like in some way I’m The word tattoo comes from the
hoping that it might just start beat- Polynesian term, tatau, and in the
ing back at me.” Ma–ori culture of Indigenous New
Zealanders, the ancient practice of
Robin’s husband, Sean Pickwell, tattoo is called ta–moko. Not unlike
was still alive when she had her erecting a tombstone or carefully
tattoo done, and he sat holding her preserving someone’s ashes, many
hand during the procedure, sup- people are choosing to mark their
porting her as she in turn supported bodies permanently to honour a
him through his battle with cancer. friend or family member that has
Sean’s daughter was also there, get- died, using the physically painful
ting the same heartbeat tattoo in procedure of tattoo art to represent
what was an emotional tribute. their emotional pain. 

“I think for Sean, it made him feel However, many people don’t con-
that he would be remembered,” the sider a memorial tattoo until after
52 year old says. “He was very ill their loved one has died, sometimes
at that point, and he knew that he years later, following deep reflection
about the words or images that would
Robin had her husband’s heartbeat best symbolise their relationship.
rhythm tattooed on her arm

or 25-year-old Hannah
Marshall, it was a photo
of her father’s gnarled
and severely arthritic
hands on his beloved
Bible, opened to read the Psalms,
that sparked the idea for her memo-
rial tattoo. “Dad was a pastor and he
had his own congregation,” Hannah
explains. “Mum took this photo just
a couple of weeks before he passed
from kidney cancer. Dad’s hands
were definitely unique to him and
something that I’ll remember forever.
“But he absolutely hated tattoos
so I don’t know what he would think

40 november 2021

In The Name Of Love And Loss

This photo of her father reading the Bible sparked the idea of a tattoo for Hannah Marshall

PHOTOS: COURTESY (LEFT) ROBIN BAILEY; (RIGHT) HANNAH MARSHALL was worse: the fact that I got a tattoo experience of grief and loss. “When
or that I got a tattoo of the Bible,” our young people at Canteen get tat-
Hannah laughs. toos, they want to make that perma-
nent mark that lasts forever, ensuring
After finding out that her father’s that their loved one is never forgot-
illness was terminal, followed by ten,” Claire explains.
his passing in 2018, Hannah credits
the cancer support service for young “It’s a powerful expression of the
people, Canteen, as a lifeline through continuing relationship they have
those tough years. “Canteen was with that person who has died.”
really there for me,” Hannah says.
Memorial tattoos provide a prompt
“I didn’t have any friends at high for the bereaved to talk about their
school going through anything sim- deceased friend or family member.
ilar, so having that network where I For this reason, many people choose
could meet others that understood, to have their memorial tattoos on
and to be able to access the Canteen their arms and feet, where it’s visible
services really helped.” for other people to see, and prompt a
dialogue about the deceased.
Canteen counsellor and national
clinical adviser, Claire Malengret, “You’ll find that when people are
says there is a growing body of re- telling stories about their loved one,
search that suggests that people they often touch their tattoos, so I
get memorial tattoos for two main think it’s deliberately visible so that
reasons: to honour and remember they can keep telling that stor y,”
someone, and to help in their own adds Claire.

readersdigest.co.nz 41

or some, the idea of a Deborah Davidson’s butterfly tattoo PHOTO: COURTESY DEBORAH DAVIDSON
memorial tattoo can remembers her two infant children
appeal many years lat-
er as a tribute. For Ryan Using the human body as a canvas
Jones, of Derby in the is not a new concept. Deborah Da-
UK, his memorial tattoo – the date vidson, 68, a sociologist from York
his grandfather passed away in Ro- University in Toronto, Canada, says
man numerals on his right forearm tattooing is one of the most ancient
– helps him to remember his grand- and persistent forms of body modi-
dad’s legacy. fication. She says that the earliest ar-
“I chose this particular idea as my chaeological evidence goes back over
granddad died when I was 13 years 5000  years, and artefacts that were
old,” says Ryan. Despite the pair be- probably used in tattooing go back
ing very close, in the years following over 10,000 years. In 1000 BCE, tattoo-
his grandfather’s death Ryan, now ing was found virtually everywhere.
21, was overwhelmed by guilt that he
didn’t think enough about him. In more recent times, the tattoo
“I only have good memories of him has often been associated with sub-
and wanted something to really re- groups, such as non-conforming
mind me of his presence and impact punks or anarchy-loving bikies, but
on my life – a tattoo is a great perma- Deborah says that tattooing has nev-
nent reminder about what a legend er been limited by its relationship to
he was to me.” deviance or subcultures.
Ryan has plans to get another tat-
too in his grandfather’s honour, this “It’s become far more widely ac-
time a half-sleeve on his forearm. As cepted as a social phenomenon,
his grandfather loved painting boats
in watercolour, Ryan would like to get
a tattoo of one of the boats he painted,
and also add some nautical-themed
objects, such as a compass and a sail-
or’s knot. “When it comes to tattoos,
I am not a fan of getting any without
meaning,” he says. “When I came up
with the idea to honour my grandfa-
ther with a permanent piece of art
on my skin, I could not pass up the
opportunity. I now plan to honour all
my family members in this way.”

42 november 2021

In The Name Of Love And Loss

as a mark on your body for various effort to create a digital archive of
reasons,” she says. “A lot of people crowd-sourced memorial tattoos and
who have memorial tattoos said they their accompanying stories.
would never have thought of getting
a tattoo before and many only have One thing that stands out from
memorial tattoos.” Deborah’s collection of stories is that
for many people, memorial tattoos
eborah is a perfect exam- not only mark their sorrows, but re-
ple of this. Admitting that mind them of joyful times.
she had never thought of
getting a tattoo herself, “Virtually all the time when I speak
she had a change of heart to people about their memorial tat-
in her mid-50s when she decided to toos they smile,” Deborah says. “You
have two butterflies etched into her can ask about the death and they’ll
skin in remembrance of two infants tell you, but they also want to speak
she had lost decades earlier. about the life that existed.”
“I had two babies many years ago,”
she says. “They were born and died At Zealand Tattoo in Queens-
shortly after birth and their loss, their town, manager Sam Tan says they
lives and my loss of them was never have around six to eight people each
acknowledged at the time. month booking in for a memorial tat-
“After I saw memorial tattoos on too. Common designs include names,
some lovely people, I got some of my portraits and Ma–ori symbols to rep-
own and then of course, tattoos are resent the person that has passed on.
like potato chips, you can’t just have “In rare cases, we have people asking
one, so I got more.” for the ash to be mixed into the ink,”
Now, Deborah has numerous tat- Sam says. “They need to be aware of
toos to acknowledge her family mem- the risk of contamination in the ink,
bers, both living and non-living, and but we have found it to be quite safe.
has written a book called The Tattoo The feeling they get from it is amaz-
Project, a print version of her web- ing, it’s quite touching.”
site, which is a collective community
It’s been said that grief is a souve-
nir of love. It seems the tattoo has
also become a souvenir of both love
and loss.

It’s Finally A Girl

A Michigan couple, whose large family attracted attention by
growing to include 14 sons, has welcomed their first daughter –

nearly three decades after the birth of their first child. AP

readersdigest.co.nz 43

READER’S DIGEST

LIFE’S LIKE THAT

Seeing the Funny Side

“Sorry, we’re running a little behind.”

If Tooth Be Told Stuffing His Face CARTOON: HARLEY SCHWADRON

My dentist, looking at my dental My husband was most displeased
X-ray, muttered, “Where is your with the jar of pimiento-stuffed
wisdom tooth, man? I can’t see it green olives he had recently
here!” He continued to look at the bought. “They’re just not vinegary,”
X-ray film and stopped at a specific he said.
shaded area and said, “Here we go.
It is hidden down here!” “They were vinegary enough
when I ate them,” said our youngest
My wife, who was also waiting in son.
the room, commented, “I am not
surprised at all, doctor. His wisdom “When did you eat them?” I asked.
is not immediately obvious most of “This morning. I sucked all the
the time, to be fair!” red things out and put the olives
back in the jar.”
SUBMITTED BY PAUL JOSEPH RICHARD
SUBMITTED BY LINDA BENNETT

44 november 2021

ILLUSTRATIONS: GETTY IMAGES Out Of Shape Life’s Like That

Why did I have to learn what a THE GREAT TWEET OFF:
rhombus is? Literally nothing is PETTY REVENGE EDITION
rhombus shaped.
Cross with your partner? The ‘adults’
MARIE FAUSTIN, COMEDIAN of Twitter have some ideas how to get

Toilet Training even with the one you love.

My friend George adopted an I know it sounds mean, but when
adorable but stubborn terrier puppy I’m angry at my wife and want to
who refused to be housebroken. lash out, I open a bottle of some
Frustrated, George signed them condiment when there’s already
both up for expensive obedience
classes. one open. @THEBOYDP
I now charge my wife for finding
Recently, I saw man and pup things for her that are in plain sight.
out for a walk and asked how the
training was going. @FATHERWITHTWINS

“Well,” George said, “I don’t poop My husband made me angry
in the house anymore.” so for dinner I’m making him

SUBMITTED BY JANE HAMILTON O’FALLON kale and tofu salad.

TRYING HIS LUCK @SWEETMOMISSA

Dubious claims my toddler Thinking about making an audio
made this week: recording of me eating cereal and
clanking my spoon on the bowl
• He invented the thumbs-up.
• Only ‘some’ lizards can read. just to send to my wife when
• He forgot how to eat carrots. we are in a fight.
• His daycare allows swords.
@SIMONCHOLLOND
@HENPECKEDHAL
The next time my linguist boyfriend
annoys me, I’m just gonna say

‘irregardless’ and see what he does.

@AUBVIOUSLYNOT

readersdigest.co.nz 45

READER’S DIGEST

I Am The

FOOD ON YOUR PLATE

Warm, woody and a little bit floral

BY Diane Godley

H ow do you make the ordinary With my place of birth kept top PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES
extraordinary? Add a little secret by those who plied my trade,
sprinkle of me, that’s how. I, I was something of a mystery to the
warm, aromatic cinnamon, ancients. To fill the void of my origins,
can turn the humdrum into the strik- elaborate stories were invented. To-
ing, boring into exotic. From stewed day, one would describe the Ancient
apples and porridge to rich Middle Greek historian Herodotus’s (c. 484-
Eastern cuisine, sweet buns and des- 425 BCE) account of me as pure fic-
serts, I put the razzamatazz into your tion when he wrote that I was guarded
food. So, it’s hardly surprising that I by winged serpents. Greek philoso-
was highly prized among ancient na- pher Aristotle (384-322 BCE) was also
tions where I was regarded a gift wor- not afraid to use poetic licence. He
thy of kings and gods. suggested I came from Arabia where

46 november 2021

I Am The Food On Your Plate

giant ‘cinnamon birds’ collected sticks The difference between my Ceylon

from cinnamon trees to build their and cassia families can clearly be seen

nests, which were plundered by those in the quills – if you know what you’re

who worked for the spice merchants. looking for. To make Ceylon quills,

Laughable, in retrospect. my bark is carefully peeled from cut

Hundreds of years later, Roman branches and rolled by ‘cinnamon

philosopher Pliny the Elder tried to peelers’ into metre-long quills till

make his people see this foolishness they’re 1 cm in diameter. Then they

for what it was, stating the fanciful are cut into manageable 8 cm lengths.

tale was made up by the spice traders The quills are tan in colour and made

so they could charge more for their up of many paper-thin, concentric lay-

highly desirable commodity. Regard- ers of bark.

less, the vivid image of the cinnamon To make cassia cinnamon, the tree

bird had taken hold and was believed is coppiced, or cut to ground level,

in some parts for an- HIGHLY PRIZED and the outer layer of
other thousand years. bark removed to get to

What those men AMONG ANCIENT the aromatic inner lay-
from antiquity did NATIONS, I WAS ers, which are loosened
get right was that I do REGARDED A GIFT and removed from the
come from a tree. In tree. After drying, any

fact, I am the inner WORTHY OF KINGS large chips of bark
bark from evergreen AND GODS are ground into pow-
aromatic trees known der. My small, upper

as Cinnamomum. I am branches produce me-

native to both Sri Lanka (Cinnamo- tre-long strips that, during the drying

mum verum), often referred to as Cey- process, curl inwards like a scroll, be-

lon cinnamon, and China (Cinnamo- coming cassia quills. The bark is about

mum cassia), and have close cousins 3 mm thick and hard – so don’t try

in Vietnam, Indonesia and other hot, putting it in your coffee grinder – and

humid southeast Asian countries. a deep shade of reddish brown.

You may hear people get a bit hoity It is very difficult to distinguish be-

toity when talking about me behind tween the two once ground, especial-

my back. Some suggest that Ceylon ly as some of the commercially sold

cinnamon is the only real cinnamon ground cinnamon is a combination of

because it is more delicate in flavour the two. However, 70 per cent of me

and texture. The bark of my cassia comes from two countries: China and

family may be tough, but it gives off Indonesia, so you are more likely to be

a sweet, perfumed aroma and is the sprinkling cassia over your porridge

preferred spice of bakers. than Ceylon.

readersdigest.co.nz 47

READER’S DIGEST

Today, I am used to add flavour to my scent helped mask the stench of
a wide variety of food and drinks. I decaying flesh.
complement fruit such as apples and
pears, am a staple ingredient in sa- But let’s not end on such a rotten
voury dishes from the Middle East, note. Some claim my nutritional at-
India and Malaysia, used in baking tributes can support blood sugar man-
to create strudels and other sweet agement in people with diabetes and
treats, and sprinkled in drinks, such my prebiotic properties improve gut
as chai tea and gluwein (mulled health. I have long been used in Chi-
wine). nese herbal medicine and in Ayurve-
dic medicine to treat flatulence and
In previous times, however, I was relieve digestive discomfort. I contain
used for an assortment of other pur- antioxidants with anti-inflammatory
poses. To preserve their dead, Ancient effects, and am a good source of fibre
Egyptians added me to the embalm- – just two teaspoons provide 2.5 grams
ing ointment during mummification. of fibre, that’s equivalent to half a cup
I was also added to kyphi, an incense of raw cabbage.
which the Egyptians would burn on
religious occasions and for medicinal Freshness maximises my health
purposes. Centuries later, but before benefits. When stored in an airtight
refrigeration, I was used in preserv- container in a dark place, I will last
ing meat, possibly because of my for about a year when whole, but will
antibacterial properties or because start to lose flavour after a few months
when ground. So keep me fresh!

CHAI TEA • Filter liquid through a sieve and

• In a saucepan place: 1 cinnamon return to saucepan with ½ cup

quill; 2 cm sliced fresh ginger; 1 tsp of milk. Gently heat.
black peppercorns; 1 whole star
anise; 1 tsp cardamom pods; • Pour into cups and add honey
1 vanilla pod; 5 whole cloves; and
3 cups of water.Bring to boil, then to taste.
simmer for 5 minutes (longer if you
want to developtheflavoursfurther).

• Take saucepan off the heat and

add ¼ cup of black tea leaves.
Let it steep for 5 minutes.

48 november 2021