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The February 18 Edition

Could you forgive a cheating spouse? | Melbourne provocateur Avi Yemini | Megan Davis & Pat Anderson | Lessons from a 50-year teaching career | Pianos for the people | A shock find in the park | Actor Hazem Shammas | Life after 40 | What’s with pebbly wines?

18 stories

‘I couldn’t ignore this house of cards’: A husband’s affair was just the beginning

Can a cheating heart run in families? Discovering infidelity across four generations – including in her own marriage – a writer searches for answers.

  • Kate Legge

‘He’s exploiting people who are genuinely scared’: Avi Yemini and the art of outrage

Loves Israel, yet has flirted with neo-Nazis. Hates victims, yet not averse to a whinge. A reporter – who’s often the story. What drives this local provocateur?

  • Tim Elliott

‘I felt strongly that my job was to guard Samuel’

The dog, autumn leaves, a morning walk – and the discovery of a dead teen. Dealing with deep sadness – and an immense feeling of responsibility and care.

  • Phil Nott
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‘Students don’t want to be your friend, they want to know where they stand’

There’s more paperwork and less time to support new colleagues. A teacher reflects on the highs and lows of 50 years in the classroom.

  • Ned Manning

When David Helfgott came to play: How recycling pianos became a hit

What began as a simple desire to share the joy of sitting down at a piano and playing has turned into a growing public movement.

  • Candida Baker

‘We understand poverty intimately’: The best friends working together for the Voice

Megan Davis and Pat Anderson are leading campaigners for the First Nations Voice to parliament. They’re also the best of friends with a love of mushy movies.

  • Nicole Abadee

‘Even great actors work for free’: Hazem Shammas on the realities of his craft

The Safe Harbour actor talks about live performance as a religious experience, honouring the business side of showbiz, and the physical impact of acting.

  • Benjamin Law

Nappies, hefty mortgages, little job security: What being 40 means today

Life may begin at 40, but it’s a very different one to previous generations.

  • Amelia Lester
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Are there seven stages to go through after discovering an affair?

Rage, confusion, self-pity ... acceptance. Emotions flow freely after discovering a cheating spouse. Kate Legge discusses infidelity on Good Weekend Talks.

Why don’t TV chefs ever wash up?

As a passionate washing-upper guy, our Modern Guru suggests a few ideas for a dish-cleaning reality show.

  • Danny Katz

Alfalfa male

Paul Connolly’s Kitchen Sink Drama is a slice of domestic life, captured masterfully in only 100 words. This week: a sliding- doors moment.

  • Paul Connolly

Pebbly, gravelly, chalky? Getting down to earth about wine minerality

They may rock your palate – but are distinctive mineral tastes in wine actually a terroir thing?

  • Huon Hooke
Serve this vegetarian tart with a simple tomato salad.
EASY

Helen Goh’s thin zucchini tart with basil and mint

At an agriturismo in Umbria last summer, Helen Goh was served a zucchini tart that was both light and satisfying. Here’s her re-creation of it.

  • 1-2 hrs
  • Helen Goh
Guanciale adds richness to this shellfish one-pot wonder.
EASY

Julia Busuttil Nishimura’s mussels, guanciale and cannellini beans

Mussels are one of Julia Busuttil Nishimura’s favourites in the kitchen – they’re delicious, affordable and quick to cook.

  • < 30 mins
  • Julia Busuttil Nishimura
Bird.
13.5/20

Melbourne: Bird

At this single-ingredient-focused restaurant, the fried chicken is some of the best in Melbourne, writes Besha Rodell.

  • Besha Rodell
The Rover.
14.5/20

Sydney: The Rover

If you’ve always wanted a cosy, British-style seafood joint in Sydney, writes Callan Boys, then that wish is now a reality.

  • Callan Boys
Good Weekend Quiz online index image

Good Weekend Quiz

Trivia buffs: test your knowledge.

Julia Busuttil Nishimura’s miso pork chops with buttered sesame corn.

Good Weekend letters to the editor: February 18

Want to chat? We’d love to hear from you. Send your letters to goodweekend@​goodweekend.com.au

Other editions

The March 21 edition

Stephanie Alexander and The Cook’s Companion at 30 | Free-diver Ant Williams | Debra Adelaide and Gabrielle Carey | How to deliver a baby on a plane

  • 11 stories

The March 14 edition

The high-strung, low-key world champ who could become our most-capped swimmer | Ukraine’s world-leading robotics work | Filmmaking at -50C | Consoling a friend

  • 13 stories