One of Kevin Milne's grandsons had his birthday recently, and to celebrate, they did something slightly unusual. 

Instead of a party, they instead took the now four year old on a tour around the Hutt Valley in a London Transport double-decker bus. 

He joined Jack Tame to chat about the experience. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

One of Kevin Milne's grandsons had his birthday recently, and to celebrate, they did something slightly unusual.&nbsp;
Instead of a party, they instead took the now four year old on a tour around the Hutt Valley in a London Transport double-decker bus.&nbsp;
He joined Jack Tame to chat about the experience.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Jack Tame’s crisp perspective, style and enthusiasm makes for refreshing and entertaining Saturday morning radio on Newstalk ZB.

News, sport, books, music, gardens and celebrities – what better way to spend your Saturdays?

Jack Tame’s crisp perspective, style and enthusiasm makes for refreshing and entertaining Saturday morning radio on Newstalk ZB. News, sport, books, music, gardens and celebrities – what better way to spend your Saturdays?

Jack Tame’s crisp perspective, style and enthusiasm makes for refreshing and entertaining Saturday morning radio on Newstalk ZB.News, sport, books, music, gardens and celebrities – what better way to spend your Saturdays?

Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

Kevin Milne: Double-decker buses and the joys of public transport for kids

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/b234c303-7c0c-4b8c-8cbc-b4ca002045f3/transcript

Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler are superstars in the world of children's literacy. 

Donaldson's fanciful, perfectly rhyming tales, paired with Scheffler's unmistakable illustrations make them a formidable force. 

The Gruffalo is one of the most successful book franchises in history, and they're returning to that familiar world with their newest creation: 'Gruffalo Granny'.  

It comes 27 years after the first book was published and 22 years after its sequel, 'The Gruffalo's Child', hit the shelves. 

Over twenty years is a fairly large gap, but Donaldson told Jack Tame she's hardly been twiddling her thumbs in the meantime.  

"I've written dozens of books in between," she said. 

"And it's quite hard to write a sequel ... you're not so free."  

The return to the deep dark wood also came as a surprise to Scheffler, who had no idea the book was in the works. 

"At least the Gruffalo and the Gruffalo's child knew that Granny was coming – I didn't know," he told Tame.  

"When I'm writing a story, I don't, if I tell someone I'm going to write a story about this, that and the other, and they go, "yeah, I'm not so sure", you know, then immediately I'll just clam up and I won't do it," Donaldson explained.  

"Plus, I've got to be happy myself. Sometimes I think I can write a story and then it doesn't work out so I have to keep it to myself and be happy before I show it to anyone." 

LISTEN ABOVE 

Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler are superstars in the world of children's literacy.&nbsp;
Donaldson's fanciful, perfectly rhyming tales, paired with Scheffler's unmistakable illustrations make them a formidable force.&nbsp;
The Gruffalo is one of the most successful book franchises in history, and they're returning to that familiar world with their newest creation: 'Gruffalo Granny'. &nbsp;
It comes 27 years after the first book was published and 22 years after its sequel, 'The Gruffalo's Child', hit the shelves.&nbsp;
Over twenty years is a fairly large gap, but Donaldson told Jack Tame she's hardly been twiddling her thumbs in the meantime. &nbsp;
"I've written dozens of books in between," she said.&nbsp;
"And it's quite hard to write a sequel ... you're not so free." &nbsp;
The return to the deep dark wood also came as a surprise to Scheffler, who had no idea the book was in the works.&nbsp;
"At least the Gruffalo and the Gruffalo's child knew that Granny was coming – I didn't know," he told Tame. &nbsp;
"When I'm writing a story, I don't, if I tell someone I'm going to write a story about this, that and the other, and they go, "yeah, I'm not so sure", you know, then immediately I'll just clam up and I won't do it," Donaldson explained. &nbsp;
"Plus, I've got to be happy myself. Sometimes I think I can write a story and then it doesn't work out so I have to keep it to myself and be happy before I show it to anyone."&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler: Author and Illustrator of The Gruffalo series on the newest instalment 'Gruffalo Granny'

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/2076aab4-9d7d-461b-93e9-b4ca00252d08/transcript

Massive names in music are set to take the stage at Christchurch's Electric Avenue next year.  

With hits like "Use Somebody" and "Sex on Fire," American rock band Kings of Leon will headline Hagley Park on Friday February 26. 

Scottish DJ Calvin Harris will play the Saturday night stage with tracks like "Feel So Close" and "We Found Love".   

Other big names include Kasabian, Major Lazer, Underworld and Bebe Rexha. 

Chris Schulz joined Jack Tame to go through the line up. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

Massive names in music are set to take the stage at Christchurch's Electric Avenue next year. &nbsp;
With hits like "Use Somebody" and "Sex on Fire," American rock band Kings of Leon will headline Hagley Park on Friday February 26.&nbsp;
Scottish DJ Calvin Harris will play the Saturday night stage with tracks like "Feel So Close" and "We Found Love". &nbsp;&nbsp;
Other big names include Kasabian, Major Lazer, Underworld and Bebe Rexha.&nbsp;
Chris Schulz joined Jack Tame to go through the line up.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Chris Schulz: Unpacking Electric Avenue's line up for 2027

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/1c60d624-c271-4cd9-b1a1-b4ca001b8bb0/transcript

Our Noble Selves by Kate Atkinson  

It’s the summer of 1951 and everyone is looking to put the dark days of the war behind them. The government’s solution: The Festival of Britain, a celebration of the country’s creativity, grit and ingenuity. 

For foreign correspondent turned war reporter Harry Flynn, it might offer the chance of redemption after a bad war in the Far East and a peace that is proving no easier to negotiate. Having failed to resume his journalistic career, he reluctantly joins an oddball team of misfits, ne’er-do-wells and downright chancers helping to ready the Festival of Britain for launch. 

Flynn’s attempts to resume some semblance of a romantic life also founder when one of his dates goes missing and he is deemed to be the last person to have seen her alive. Could he have been in some way responsible for her disappearance? 

Little does he realize that the answer to some of his mounting problems may lie in the hands of a precocious, straight-talking thirteen-year-old called Veronica and a rather scruffy terrier who goes by the name of Mrs Betty… 

  

The Pirate Queen by Ariel Lawhon  

Grace O’Malley was born to be a sea captain. But despite her natural skill on the water, Grace learns early that her dreams of a life at the helm are not compatible with the expectations of her noble family. As the only daughter of a powerful chieftain, her role is to secure a strong alliance and bear children. But when she’s sent to foster with a nearby clan, Grace falls for a clever and open-minded second son—a man she cannot have. 

Married off against her will to a brutal warrior, Grace performs her duty, all the while gathering followers loyal to her, and consolidating her husband’s power, only to be ousted from his lands. But this betrayal offers Grace the opportunity to return to sea, finally leading clan O’Malley’s mighty fleet. Just as she finds true independence, Queen Elizabeth’s incursions into Ireland grow bolder and Grace must fight to defend her land, her ships, and the people she loves most against the cruel and power-hungry English deputies, who will stop at nothing to check her influence. 

 

LISTEN ABOVE 

Our Noble Selves by Kate Atkinson &nbsp;
It’s the summer of 1951 and everyone is looking to put the dark days of the war behind them. The government’s solution: The Festival of Britain, a celebration of the country’s creativity, grit and ingenuity.&nbsp;
For foreign correspondent turned war reporter Harry Flynn, it might offer the chance of redemption after a bad war in the Far East and a peace that is proving no easier to negotiate. Having failed to resume his journalistic career, he reluctantly joins an oddball team of misfits, ne’er-do-wells and downright chancers helping to ready the Festival of Britain for launch.&nbsp;
Flynn’s attempts to resume some semblance of a romantic life also founder when one of his dates goes missing and he is deemed to be the last person to have seen her alive. Could he have been in some way responsible for her disappearance?&nbsp;
Little does he realize that the answer to some of his mounting problems may lie in the hands of a precocious, straight-talking thirteen-year-old called Veronica and a rather scruffy terrier who goes by the name of Mrs Betty…&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;
The Pirate Queen by Ariel Lawhon &nbsp;
Grace O’Malley was born to be a sea captain. But despite her natural skill on the water, Grace learns early that her dreams of a life at the helm are not compatible with the expectations of her noble family. As the only daughter of a powerful chieftain, her role is to secure a strong alliance and bear children. But when she’s sent to foster with a nearby clan, Grace falls for a clever and open-minded second son—a man she cannot have.&nbsp;
Married off against her will to a brutal warrior, Grace performs her duty, all the while gathering followers loyal to her, and consolidating her husband’s power, only to be ousted from his lands. But this betrayal offers Grace the opportunity to return to sea, finally leading clan O’Malley’s mighty fleet. Just as she finds true independence, Queen Elizabeth’s incursions into Ireland grow bolder and Grace must fight to defend her land, her ships, and the people she loves most against the cruel and power-hungry English deputies, who will stop at nothing to check her influence.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Catherine Raynes: Our Noble Selves and The Pirate Queen

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/a2e5423f-8628-4cf1-8278-b4ca0017e19e/transcript

Kevin Milne: Double-decker buses and the joys of public transport for kids

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