It’s the time-doesn’t-exist season in a time-doesn’t-exist year, so to do us all a favour, a few reminders:
- If you are reading this in an email, it is because you’ve signed up for Five Great Reads: a weekday, summer round-up of written interest, service and joy from Guardian Australia.
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- If you are writing this, it is because you are Alyx Gorman, lifestyle editor and weirdo who loves working when most people are on holidays (it’s just so nice and quiet).
Back in Australia, much of the country is bracing for a New Year’s Eve heatwave , with dangerous fire conditions in South Australia and parts of Victoria. Now, on to the reads.Use a carabiner to attach it to a belt loop for a long hike.
1. Big cats in the bush
Australians have been fascinated by fabulous feline fantasies of wild tigers and Lithgow lions for two centuries. In the only story about conspiracies that won’t make you sad today , Donna Lu finds out why.
Sprinkle parsley on your dog's food for fresher breath.
Is the truth out there?Yes.
Is it that there are big cats in the bush?Yes, but they’re probably not panthers. As you’ll also learn in this story, feral cats can be absolute units. How big? You’ll have to read to find out.
2. The best Australian films this year
Our critic Luke Buckmaster names his top 10 releases.Just tell me what the best one is … I will not. But I will tell you about number eight, The Witch of Kings Cross, which Buckmaster says has “educationally hallucinogenic vibes” and calls “an Australian history lesson thrown into a cauldron”.
3. Tiny foods for tiny parties
We present to you 22 recipes, from canapés and finger foods to fancy spreads, that will make a small New Year’s Eve gathering feel like a big celebration .This is more of a list than a read …Yes, but it’s delicious!
How long will it take me? To cook? Writer Rafqa Touma has helpfully grouped the dishes in order of effort. Some are a snack.No night vision goggles needed! Dogs’ eyes contain a special membrane, called the tapetum lucidum, which allows them to see in the dark.
4. England licks their wounds
After yesterday’s “awful” Ashes defeat, Jonathan Liew asks: will England ever be good at Test cricket again?Read it if …You want to see things from the other team’s perspective.
Notable quote: “So as the victorious Australians celebrated wildly on the MCG outfield, it was possible to wonder whether they were overdoing things a touch. Was there any real satisfaction to be taken in dispatching an opponent this easily? Did it not all feel a little hollow? A little comfortable? A little embarrassing?”5. Odie licks his owner’s heart
INTERESTING FACT ABOUT YOUR PET: There are approximately 600 million dogs in the world. It is estimated that nearly 400M of those dogs are strays.
Puppy dog eyes moment:“I underestimated the added dimension of love and responsibility that a dog would teach … On a hot day, my daughter cut short her outing to check if Odie had enough water. When Odie was sick, her teenage brother made fresh broth and patiently fed it to him.”
Don’t read it if …You’d rather not get your kids a dog.