This:

‘I want to hit 100’: Derek Jacobi on Aids, ageing and failing to boil an egg

A sad prediction: Republicans will overwhelmingly ‘win’ the midterms and the 2028 Presidential election will be cancelled. Trump has no intention of standing down.

So pleased to have attended the NZ book launch of this wonderful first novel by Karen Holdom. It’s a bittersweet story about two boys, caught up in the catastrophe that was Hitler’s Europe. If you like reading novels, I know you will adore this one.

The Garden of Earthly Delights (detail), by Hieronymus Bosch, 1480-1505, 📸 by @alexbrandon

Simon Bennett (@pookina1.bsky.social) joins me on the pod! He served as Head of Drama at South Pacific Pictures for years & showrunner for Saban’s “Power Rangers.” He gets candid about his love of theater, the challenges of producing long-running television & everything from Shakespeare to spandex.

podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/d... Chatting with Marc about mime and TV and stuff.

An old music video of an even older song by 10cc, but strangely prescient. youtu.be/pv3km20JH0U?...

Summer reading - lovely in-depth article on Spinoff about how Outrageous Fortune came to be.

Merry Christmas, to those who observe it, from all the scuttleworms. Otherwise, wishing everyone peace and reconnection.

Vale Tom Stoppard. He gave us some good shit to sink our teeth into. I think my first acting experience was in Rozencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, and my favourite experiences as an audience member include Arcadia and Brazil. May his writing cement his place in the pantheon of greats.

podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/b... In which I chat with Jamie about some of the screen projects I’ve been privileged to have worked on.

Don’t often do this, but Pernille on Netflix is wonderful viewing. Funny and sad I turns, it’s a slice of life drama that feels so authentic it hurts. Best watched in Norwegian with subtitles if you want to experience the fantastic performances to their fullest.

It may be just me, but the new Lily Allen album feels embarrassing - too much information. Seriously, when would you put this music on to listen to?

The Ridge review – this hugely layered thriller is just masterly

It’s beautifully made.

Directing My Life is Murder for Greenstone Pictures. Photo credit Renaud Maire. I’m available for directing work, stage and screen, as well as screen producing and development work. 36 years’ experience. Various awards etc. Please DM if I can help realise your project.

Lord Zedd has been languishing in our storage unit because apparently he doesn’t suit the decor. Now looking for a new home. He’s on Trademe if anyone’s interested in this monstrosity.

David Gilmour at the Circus Maximus concert film was excellent. What splendid musicians. What a blast.

In a pub. In Whakatane. Watching the rugby. Weird.

This is the daughter’s cat: Jones. Posting because the world is such an evil mess, we need more cat photos.

With John and Nalini at Weta Workshop. Happy times.

Counterpoint: This is mad confusing because it is garbage made with AI and few of the birds look much like the birds they look like. Here’s a thought: instead of sharing this, maybe share art made by a human? One who needs it for their livelihood? www.tworuru.com/product/aote...

Brian Eno: "The early part of this century has seen people realize that neoliberal economics have failed. It has been a machine for concentrating wealth, just as the internet has become a machine for concentrating prejudice..." #interview www.flaunt.com/blog/people-...

Great moment at the Civic premiere of ‘Prime Minister’ last night. During the section dealing with the aftermath of the Christchurch Mosque atrocity, a shot came up of David Seymour, the only naysaying MP to the banning of military-style semi-automatic weapons. 2400 people booed.

Just saw ‘Prime Minister’ at The Civic. Wow! So moving and well-made. I predict it’s going to be hugely successful.

Trans people belong in whatever goddamn bathroom they like, they deserve to do whatever goddamn sport gives them joy, they need healthcare and support and basic fucking dignity, they are being made a target to create division in our communities, and we're not fucking letting it happen, Aotearoa.

This!! 💯 THIS!

Sad to learn that Colbert has been axed. Compulsory viewing in this NZ household. I expect someone else will pick him up and he'll continue to go from strength to strength.

My parents were mime artists, but I’m okay now.

Classic that the one time Luxon stands up to Seymour he's almost certainly doing it because Peters told him to. www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

Very proud to have spent five years directing this show.

‘Passing Regulatory Standards Bill will exact high political price’ newsroom.co.nz/2025/07/02/g...

I’ve written a letter of complaint to the PM regarding Seymour's behaviour. We’ve witnessed him target academics who act as our critic and conscience, and attack public servants for simply doing their job. This is unacceptable.

Appalling behaviour from the Deputy Prime Minister.

It’s just struck me that getting yourself elected involves a very different skill set to developing policy and making decisions in the best interests of the people of a country.

If you have not made a complaint to RNZ and the Media Council about the Ruth Hill story from last week, the information provided by @davidfarrier.bsky.social today would be an excellent example of what it did that was wrong.

If you’re considering submitting on the Regulatory Standards Bill, here’s a wonderful article by Dame Anne Salmond that articulates clearly and simply why the Bill is a terrible idea: newsroom.co.nz/2025/06/14/a...

Job of the day. Installed steel bookshelves with Helen. Next task is to get books out of storage and populate the shelves. Home becoming more like home every week.

The level of insincerity on display from Seymour here really is striking. A Bill on purported good lawmaking practice leaves it to AI to read 90% + of the submissions. A Bill seeking to impose principles that are (allegedly) about evidence-based lawmaking is ignoring all contrary evidence.

Just submitted.

Brilliant blasts from the past at my 60th party. John Leigh and Simon Elson.

Oh neat, @joshuamoore.com's 'Morphenomenal' book is now out, meaning everyone can now read about the history of Power Rangers AND see my favourite work photo with @pookina1.bsky.social and Alwyn. www.amazon.com.au/Morphenomena...

Wise words @whakamataku.bsky.social We will rise above all this This Government does not reflect our values This Government does not reflect the majority This Government has overstepped too many times We will remember We will take Aotearoa back for....everyone.

Imagine being Prime Minister of New Zealand and being so much more upset for a haka than homelessness, then feeding our tamariki slop, then removing equitable wages from our communities. We must be so proud New Zealand.

NACT Budget 1 misses target borrows $12bn Budget 2 so shot they nix $17bn in pay equality Media - How can we trust the Greens budget plans!?

I’ve opened up my Saturday Soliloquy weekly summary and podcast for full public reading, listening and sharing after it got more than 100 likes. 1/3

Happy Mothers Day 💐 #nzpol

Pesto beef a la Peter Gordon, whose Sugar Club I worked at in Wellington in the late ‘80s. Matched with a beautiful Gibbston Valley 2019 Pinot Noir. Thanks Helen - love of my life - there are worse ways to turn 60.