Table of contents for TAK2525 in Take 5

I shuddered when I read Jade’s story this week, because it brought back memories of me doing the same thing! The bride-to-be accidentally took sleeping pills instead of Nurofen on the morning of her wedding. Mine wasn’t before such a special occasion, but it was a work day! I’d woken up with a headache, gulped down what I thought was pain relief, only to realise it was two very drowsy antihistamines. Determined to go to work, and thinking how bad could it really be, I went to the office, where I was a dribbling wreck and could barely keep my eyes open! Luckily, my boss was sympathetic and sent me home to sleep it off. Check out Jade’s story on page 72 for the other mishaps that happened on her…

GERIATRIC JAILBIRD Patricia Bennett had recently retired and was making the most of it. Wine o’clock, she posted on social media, while on a caravan holiday. Then there were the snaps of the grandma, 69, enjoying holidays in Spain and Greece with her family. At home, she’d erected a pop-up pub in her newly refurbished backyard. It looked like she’d worked hard in her role as an accounts manager at J Shaw Electrical Engineers for 25 years, and was now enjoying her just rewards. But when her successor looked at the accounts, a different picture emerged… Suspicious transactions dating back 13 years raised alarm bells, and police began to investigate. It looked like she’d worked hard They discovered that the thieving granny had regularly syphoned small amounts from the company…

Mushroom pies MAKES 6 PREP 20 MINS COOK 1 HOUR 75g butter 1 tbsp olive oil 600g mushroom cups, sliced 100g shiitake mushrooms, sliced 1 medium leek, diced 1 clove garlic, chopped finely 2 tbsp plain flour 2 tbsp tomato paste ¾ cup vegetable stock 3 sheets shortcrust pastry, just thawed 3 sheets frozen puff pastry, just thawed 1 egg, lightly beaten Oven fries, mashed peas, to serve 1 Heat butter and oil in a large, deep frying pan over a high heat. Add both mushrooms. Cook, stirring often, for 10 mins or until mushrooms are soft and golden. Stir in leek and garlic. Cook for 2 mins or until leek is soft. Stir flour into mixture. 2 Cook for 1 min until vegetables are coated. Stir in tomato paste.…

CANCER June 22 -July 23 You may have opportunities land in your lap that, just last week, felt so far away. With an abundance of options come some weighty decisions. What you want and what your career and overall life direction require may be in conflict. ★ When in doubt, double down on your self-confidence. LEO July 24 – Aug 23 So far, 2025 has brought you challenges and obstacles. You’ve learned a lot about yourself, though! The learning will continue as the Sun enters your most Private Zone. Meditation and reflection are key. ★ The best investment you can make is to know thyself. VIRGO Aug 24 – Sept 23 It’s been a long time coming, but finally, Mars has arrived in your sign. Now, you have a cosmic…

THEN NOW I invested my life savings on a gut feeling Kate Rose, 58, Gympie, Qld. Stepping out of the military transport at my home, I breathed in the fresh air of the English countryside. It’s good to be back, I thought. Suddenly, the front door swung open, and my two boys, Luke, 10, and Aaron, five, came running out and straight into my arms. “Mummy, you’re home!” they cheered. “I missed you both so much,” I replied, hugging them tightly. It was June 2004, and I’d just returned to Somerset, England, after a six-month tour in Iraq during the Second Gulf War. It had been nine years since I joined the army reserves while working as a pastry chef in London, having moved there in 1988 from my hometown…

I fought a monster as he tore into my tiny toddler Amy Hobson, 32. Our bull greyhound, Nitro, bounded into the kitchen and lapped up crumbs from the floor. The kids laughed at our furry vacuum cleaner. “Can we get a puppy, Mummy?” my daughter, Luna-Ann begged. “No love, we already have Nitro,” I replied. As a single mum to Ellie-May, 13, Lily-Rose, 11, Luna-Ann, four, and Darren-John, two, as well as Nitro to look after, my hands were already full. But Luna-Ann wouldn’t stop badgering me. “Please Mummy, I really want a puppy,” she pleaded. I’d grown up in a family of dog lovers and Nitro had been around for as long as my kids could remember. So, when a neighbour’s American bulldog had a litter of puppies, I…

Air fryer apple & strawberry crumble SERVES 4 PREP 15 MINS COOK 25 MINS 250g punnet strawberries 3 large Granny Smith apples 1 tsp vanilla extract 2 tbsp orange juice 2 tbsp maple syrup Icing sugar, vanilla ice-cream, to serve SPICED CRUMBLE TOPPING 1 cup almond meal ¾ cup traditional rolled oats 3 tsp ground ginger 1 tsp mixed spice 2 tbsp maple syrup 75g cold butter, chopped finely 1 SPICED CRUMBLE TOPPING Place ingredients in a medium bowl. Rub mixture together to form coarse crumbs. 2 Halve strawberries. Peel, core and coarsely chop apples. Combine apple, strawberries, vanilla, orange juice and maple syrup in a large bowl. 3 Grease four 10cm (1½ cup capacity) ovenproof dishes; ensure the dishes will fit into the air fryer. Divide fruit mixture…

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 Anna Quinn, Director of Content Sally Eagle, General Manager Entertainment Susan Armstrong, Commercial Brand Manager Jessica Ashworth, Director of Marketing Carly Bowra 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 / syndication@aremedia.com.au Printed…

Debt itself isn’t the problem – it’s how we manage it that matters. It’s not a money issue; it’s a people issue. Life happens, and sometimes debt piles up, leaving you feeling stuck. If you find yourself in a cycle of paying it down only to see it build back up, it’s a sign that the real root cause hasn’t been addressed. Let’s put an end to that cycle – once and for all. Here’s 10 steps to help you wipe out bad debt for good: 1 Get off the credit drug If overspending got you into debt, it’s time for a personal debt detox by cutting out credit spending. Remove temptation; otherwise, old habits will return and sabotage your progress. Cut up your credit cards, or if you must…

Slow cooker meatloaf SERVES 4 PREP 10 MINS COOK 3 HOUR 500g beef mince 500g sausage mince 1 cup fresh breadcrumbs 1 onion, grated 1 tbsp Dijon mustard 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce 1 egg, lightly whisked 700g jar tomato passata with Italian herbs Finely grated parmesan, mashed potato, steamed peas, to serve 1 In a large bowl, combine minces, breadcrumbs, onion, mustard, sauce and egg. Season with salt and pepper. 2 Form into a meatloaf shape. Pour passata into the removeable bowl of a 5 to 6-litre capacity slow cooker. Place meatloaf over sauce. Cover with lid. 3 Cook on High for hours, until cooked through. 3 Transfer meatloaf to a serving plate. Cover to keep warm. Drain cooking liquid through a fine sieve into a small saucepan, discarding solids.…

My wedding was nearly a snoozefest! Jade Jensen, 28, Henley Beach, SA. I frowned as my boyfriend, Heath, pulled cable cutters from his pocket. “Why have you brought those?” I asked. It was May 2024, and we were on a walk with our kelpie, Sassie. We’d stopped at a bench overlooking the lake. “Sassie, come here!” Heath shouted. Sassie came bounding over, and Heath crouched beside her to snip something from her collar. He then turned to me on one knee. “Jade, will you marry me?” he asked, holding up a diamond ring. I was stunned. “Yes!” I finally spluttered. We’d been together for five years, so our loved ones were thrilled. We set the date for a year after our engagement, and I began planning the wedding. A friend…