Table of contents for TAK2446 in Take 5

Editorial

Knowing how much our readers love our puzzles, prizes, and chances to win, we’ve put a lot of work into sourcing some amazing designer names in our puzzle book. And we’ve also got extra cash comps running over the rest of the year. Including, Win Cold Hard Cash! launching this week, where one lucky reader will win a $3000 boost to their bank balance. There’s also a whopping $50k up for grabs when you subscribe (p24) and our long-running $10k prize when you support your local newsagent by buying anything from the shop and sending us your receipt (p64). While you’re there, check out our special offer, where you can get a jigsaw puzzle for only $2.99 when you buy this mag, or another participating Are Media magazine. It’s select…

Editorial

Wish You Were Beer

I’ve been part of this iconic NT event since the beginning Jeff Dunn, 78, Darwin, NT. Heading home from work, a poster caught my eye. Build a raft of old drink cans and float it to success in the world’s first Beer Can Regatta, it read. It was such an unusual concept, I later mentioned it to my wife, Kaye, 27. “Yeah, everyone’s talking about that,” she chuckled. “We should check it out,” I said. It was 1974 and we’d been living in Darwin for two years with our kids, Scott, five, and Tracy, three. I’d been posted there from Adelaide to set up a paint shop, and we loved the tropical lifestyle. There was a thriving pub culture and the road from Katherine to Darwin was always littered…

Wish You Were Beer

Lost in thought

Lost in thought

As you reach menopause, you should know that meno brain – the brain fog associated with reaching menopausal age – is real! But, says GP Dr Ginni Mansberg, there are some things you can do to help it. WHAT DO PERIMENOPAUSE AND MENOPAUSE HAVE TO DO WITH THE BRAIN? “Naturally, lots of women who see me are experiencing brain fog and are terrified about what this means for their brains,” Dr Mansberg explains. “Is this the start of a dementing process?” Alzheimer’s disease is exceptionally rare at the time most women go through menopause and peri, so it is unlikely to be anything more than menopause brain fog at this stage of life. “I say to my patients that if you lose your keys, consider it normal. But if you…

Pretty Woman

Pretty Woman

A stranger paid $80k for my new bod Sienna Grace, 29, Byron Bay, NSW. Working as an apprentice hairdresser, I began chatting to my attractive client. “And what do you do for work?” I asked. “I’m a high profile escort,” she replied. “Really?” I gasped. I was all ears as she told me about the industry – and the cash she made! That’s what I want to do, I realised. I was just 19, but I had big dreams! I was living in a cramped apartment and longed for a more luxurious lifestyle but on a hairdresser’s wage, it seemed so unachievable. Blowing my savings on DD-cup breast implants, I hoped my new curvy body would help me fulfil my ambitions. I went to a parlour, also known as…

The Honeymoon Phase

The Honeymoon Phase

Ever wondered why in the beginning, romantic relationships are more intense, exciting and magnetic? Is this phase real or something made up in movies? Well, a study by psychiatrist Donatella Marrazziti and MD Domenico Canale compared the hormones of couples who had recently fallen in love with couples in long-lasting relationships. Their findings showed that newly in love couples exhibited higher levels of hormones suggestive of conditions when compared with couples in long-lasting relationships. When they re-tested both groups 12-24 months later, there was no significant difference in hormone honeymoon phase is real and does come to an end. The honeymoon moments are a privileged journey and love drug for those who are single and moving into a bonded relationship. WHY DOES THE HONEYMOON PHASE OCCUR? From a psychological perspective,…

Budget-Busting Dinners

Ham, cheese & pineapple pizza pockets SERVES 4 PREP 20 MINS COOK 10 MINS 1 quantity Basic Pizza Pocket Dough (see recipe at right) 1⁄3 cup pizza sauce 250g shaved leg ham, chopped 2 tomatoes, sliced, plus 2 extra, finely chopped 225g can pineapple pieces, drained, patted dry on paper towel 1 1⁄3 cups grated tasty cheese Cooking oil spray 1 red onion, finely chopped 2 tbsp finely chopped flat-leaf parsley 1 tbsp lemon juice 1 clove garlic, crushed 1 Divide dough into 4 equal portions; roll each portion out to a 20cm round. For each pizza pocket, spoon a tablespoon of pizza sauce over half a dough portion, leaving a 2cm border. Top with a quarter each of the ham, tomato, pineapple and cheese. Fold dough over…

Budget-Busting Dinners

‘Wait, What?!’

‘Wait, What?!’

Kaitlyn Lutes, 25, Perth, WA. A gorgeous guy with thick dark hair walked into the shop. “Can I help you?” I asked. “Just browsing,” he replied, in a thick Aussie accent that made me swoon. It was January 2023. I was 23 and had moved to Miami, USA, from my home in Texas to work on yachts, and had taken a part-time job in retail. The cute guy introduced himself as Keanu, 22. “I’m on a uni exchange from Perth,” he said. He asked for my details and shortly after, we went on our first date. For the rest of Keanu’s time in Miami we were inseparable. When he flew back to Australia in June, I booked a flight to go and see him that August. Reunited in Perth, we…

A Labour Of Love

A Labour Of Love

Our dream of singing with our late mother came true Madison Payne, 21, Perth, WA. The beat kicked in and Mum’s beautiful voice started singing. “Oh am I fooling you? Do you fall for it all, or do you just see right through?” she crooned. I looked up and grinned at my sister, Sophie, five. It was 2011, I was eight and we were playing in my bedroom with our friends, Flynn, 11, Jack, six, and another Sophie, three, while the adults jammed in the dining room. My mum, Carine, 41, sang and played the piano and guitar, and our dad Alan, 45, played accordion. Flynn, Jack and Sophie’s dad, Dave, sang and played guitar, too, and another friend Anna, played the double bass. Those are some of my happiest…

Here Comes The Bro

I gave my groom a first look he’ll never forget! Molly Caldwell, 24, Newcastle, NSW. I watched as my rescue Boston terrier anxiously started running around the park, avoiding the other dogs. “Norman, come back!” I called out to him, but he ignored me. It was 2020, I was 20 years old and had moved from Cooma, NSW, to Newcastle a month earlier. Norman was painfully antisocial, so I’d met up with my housemate’s friend and her dog to try to get him more comfortable with company, but it wasn’t going well. “My friend’s son, Ethan did a great job training his dog,” she told me. “How about I introduce you to him so he can help you train Norman?” “That’d be great!” I replied. Days later, we were at…

Here Comes The Bro

Peppered With Love

I answered my phone and promptly burst into tears Jess Peatt, 39, Smythes Creek, Vic. My Maltese Shih tzu puppy Pepper wagged her tail at me. “Aren’t you just the cutest little ball of fluff,” I said, cuddling her. We’d got her to be a companion to our English staffy Sasha. And our kids Seth, four, and Amarli, two, adored her. We all did. She had such a sweet nature. Every morning, Pepper scooted off down the road after my husband, Marc, 28, when he left for work, and then waited on the front step for me to let her back in. But, one morning in 2011, when she was two, she wasn’t there. “That’s odd,” I said. After half an hour, the kids and I went to look for…

Peppered With Love

Tween Dream

My girl launched her own skincare line at 12! Sonja Jovcevski, 45, Sydney, NSW Peering into a mirror, my daughter screwed up her face. “Look at my skin, Mum,” she wailed. “It’s terrible.” Sienna, 11, had great skin, but she’d started getting a few spots with the onset of puberty. It was 2020, and with COVID lockdowns, the best we could do was try different skincare products we ordered online. Sadly, the problem only got worse. I was a qualified beauty therapist, and had treated plenty of adults, but I wasn’t about to use professional-grade products on sensitive, young skin. Soon after, Sienna declared she’d found a cure on TikTok. “Go on then,” I said, hiding my scepticism. “It’s a mask made with milk, yoghurt, turmeric, and honey,” she said.…

Tween Dream

Gluten-free Picnic

Chicken & pea pies SERVES 6 PREP 20 MINS + 30 MINS TO CHILL COOK 40 MINS 1½ cups gluten-free plain flour Pinch of salt ½ tsp xanthan gum ¼ tsp gluten-free baking powder 150g butter, chilled, chopped 1 egg, plus 1 extra 2 tsp vegetable or olive oil 250g chicken breast fillets, finely chopped 1 onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, crushed 2 thyme sprigs, leaves removed 1 cup fresh ricotta ½ cup cream 2 tbsp freshly grated parmesan 2 tsp finely grated lemon zest 1 cup frozen peas, thawed Lemon wedges, to serve 1 Place the flour, salt, xanthan gum, baking powder and butter a food processor bowl; pulse until just combined. Add egg; pulse until mixture just comes together. Divide dough into 2 equal portions.…

Gluten-free Picnic

Oh Sew Simple!

Our group of crafty nannas is helping our community mend Nirala Hunt, 68, Margaret River, WA. Pulling thread through the eye of the needle, I started sewing. “What are you working on today, Nirala?” my friend Cherry asked. “Saving the planet, of course,” I chuckled. Ever since I was six years old I’d loved to sew and knit, and now I was sharing my love of craft with the Margaret River community. In 2011, myself and 30 other local grandmothers, aged between 60 and 80, formed Nannas for Native Forests, a craft-ivism movement where we’d meet in a public space to sew and decorate fabric leaves. Then we’d give them to people to spread the word about why protecting our trees is so important. Incredibly, our efforts paid off and…

Oh Sew Simple!

Friend Or Thief?

Friend Or Thief?

Hi Take 5ers, I’ve always been obsessed with jewellery and lovely trinkets, and keep a large collection in a jewellery box in my bedroom. I often have friends over and recently I noticed that my friend Martha*, who I’ve known for seven years, was wearing a necklace that looks exactly like one I have. I know she’s admired it before, and now I can’t find it anywhere. When I asked if it was mine, she denied it and swore she bought it at a shop in town. I don’t know if I believe her. What should I do? Jocelyn*, 55 I would tell her yours has gone missing and you want to purchase another one. And if she could please tell you which shop she bought it from and how…

Masthead

EDITORIAL Editorial Director Kate Kirsten, Editor Rachel Williams, Deputy Editor Kim Bonett, Art Director Fiona Parsons, Picture Editor Vanessa Mckenzie ARE MEDIA Chief Executive Officer Jane Huxley, Director of Sales Andrew Cook, Director of Content Sally Eagle, General Manager Entertainment Susan Armstrong, Commercial Brand Manager Jessica Ashworth, Head of Consumer Marketing Louise Cankett Subscription enquiries: Customer Service 136 116 (Mon-Fri 8am-6pm AEST) International +61 2 9692 3535 Email magshop@magshop.com.au Website www.magshop.com.au Advertising enquiries: advertising@aremedia.com.au Published by Are Media Pty Limited (ABN 18 053 273 546), 54-58 Park Street, Sydney, NSW 2000. ©2024. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or part without prior written permission. Take5 is a registered trade mark of Are Media. Use of trademark strictly prohibited. Licensing Inquiries: www.contentshop.com.au…

Masthead

The Killer Cougar

We warned our boy to stay away from his older girlfriend, but he wouldn’t listen Jackie Morrey, 40. It was 4am and still dark outside when I heard an alarm go off in my stepson Kasey’s bedroom. Quick as a flash, he was up and moving about, getting ready to go fishing. How does he do it? I thought in awe. Kasey loved being outdoors and, unlike most teenagers who lazed around in bed, he had no problem getting up. I’d met his dad, Graham, through friends in 2012, when Kasey was 14. Graham had raised him and his other children, Molly, 12, Connor, 10, and James, nine, on his own, with help from his parents and his sister, Denise. Together with my own children, Alex, 10, and Charlea, seven,…

The Killer Cougar

Dieting Dilemma

You’re hitting the gym, running miles, you’ve ditched the processed foods and reduced your calorie intake, yet still you cannot lose weight! Frustrating, right? You’re probably wondering: what is going on with my body? As a functional medicine practitioner, coach and trauma therapist, nutritionist Filipa Bellette knows that losing weight isn’t just about energy in and energy out. There can be body systems out of whack that are affecting your metabolism, as well as deeper baggage in your unconscious mind. Here, Filipa shares the key areas that impact your ability to lose weight, especially if you’re feeling stuck with exercise and dieting… STRESS HORMONES Are you stressed, overwhelmed, burned out or running ‘busy’ patterns? If you are, your adrenal glands are likely getting a hit. Your adrenals secrete your stress…

Dieting Dilemma

Your tips

Your tips

You can test old seeds without planting them in the garden. Put them on a wet paper towel and see if they start to sprout. If they do, you can plant them. Slice the bottom third off your cupcake horizontally and put it on the top of the cupcake, to make a cupcake sandwich with the icing in the middle. My dog hates being groomed, but I learned a trick to distract her. I smear peanut butter on the fridge door then brush her while she’s licking it. Use a potato peeler to slice cheese into even en slices. To avoid having to tip out a heavy wheelie bin full of bags after a rainy night, simply drill a drain hole on each side of your bin at the…

‘I Was So Scared, Mummy!’

‘I Was So Scared, Mummy!’

We loved our portable pool – until it landed me in the hospital Gemma Allinson, 42. Lazing on the sun lounge in the garden, I wiped the sweat from my brow. It was one of the hottest summers we’d had in years. “Do you know what we need?” I said to my eldest son, Cameron. “A pool.” “I’ll just build one, shall I?” he teased. I rolled my eyes. “I meant a portable one, you cheeky bugger,” I said. Taking out my phone, I googled shops nearby where I could buy one. I found one not too far away, costing $800. It was steep, but I was sure it would be worth it. Think about how refreshing it will be to sit in, I thought. I knew the kids…

Stacks On!

Banana & salted caramel sauce stacks SERVES 4 PREP 10 MINS COOK 10 MINS 300ml thickened cream 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar 60g butter, chopped, plus 40g extra, at room temperature ½ tsp sea salt flakes 400g Madeira cake, cut into 8 slices 2 bananas, sliced 1⁄3 cup chopped walnuts 1 Combine cream, sugar, butter and salt in a heavy-based saucepan; cook and stir for 2 mins over low heat or until sugar dissolves. Increase heat. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat; simmer, stirring occasionally, for 5 mins or until sauce thickens slightly. 2 Meanwhile, melt the extra butter in a large frying pan over moderate heat. Cook the cake slices, in batches, for 1 min each side or until browned and heated. Transfer to a heatproof plate;…

Stacks On!

Furry Getaways

I’m being treated to a luxury two-night getaway in Byron Bay with my little dog, Cherry. I’m so excited that she gets to come along! ANYTHING BUT THE DOGHOUSE I check into my penthouse at The Beach Suites and I have to pinch myself, as it’s so gorgeous, I feel like I’m in a dream. It’s absolutely huge and the view to the beach is incredible. If you’ve been searching for pet-friendly accommodation that combines luxury, ocean views and ample space for entertaining, then The Beach Suites covers it all. Literally no expense or extras have been spared in these amazing five-star apartments. Private rooftop pool with ocean views? Tick! Pet-friendly stay complete with blankets and bowls? Tick! Morning newspaper of your choice? Tick! I could go on. Location is…

Furry Getaways

Stars

SCORPIO Oct 24 – Nov 22 You’ve just had the New Moon in your sign and now the November Full Moon is in your Love Zone. Suffice to say, this is a very powerful time for you. Hopefully you’re feeling like a new you. Now you can have new relationship energy as well. ★ Love with all your heart. AQUARIUS Jan 21 – Feb 19 With intense energies bearing down on you, keep your life in balance. The November Full Moon reminds you that home and work are equally important, so keep the equilibrium going. ★ Balance now will make the next 18 years easier. TAURUS Apr 21 – May 21 The November Full Moon in your sign is triggering the planet of excitement and change, Uranus. There could…

Stars

Your Letters

In sickness and amnesia My mum, Linda, and I were helping my little sister, Kiera, 28, shop for a wedding dress. I overheard Kiera ask Mum what it’s like having a husband. “Being married to your dad is like spending forever with a best friend who doesn’t remember a word I say or where anything goes,” Mum said dryly. Shayann Turner, Southbank, Vic. Free spirits WE PAY $100 FOR EACH LETTER PRINTED Naomi’s story in issue 36 about having the courage to explore the world outside her strict Amish upbringing made me think about my mum, Laurel. She grew up on a sheep farm miles from anywhere and, against her parents’ wishes, packed her bags aged 17 and headed to Sydney in search of something, anything, new. She met my…

Your Letters