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The spooky season is upon us, and we’re getting ready to celebrate another gloriously ghoulish Halloween. So why do we enjoy this gruesome fare? Psychologist Carly Dober says there can be a fine line between fear and having fun, as long as we’re able to engage from a safe space. People either love or hate them “For people to genuinely enjoy and be drawn to ghost stories, they are likely aware that they are in a safe environment which makes it a safe thrill,” she explains. “Scary entertainment can trigger the fight or flight response, which can come with a boost in adrenaline, endorphins and dopamine. The brain can then process the person’s surroundings and conclude that the experience is not a genuine threat.” THRILLS AND SPILLS Another reason we…

Hi Take 5ers, My hubby and I have moved into his late mum’s home. Recently, I was chatting on the phone about her to a mate when the ceiling lights flashed on and off. Then, on a still day, I noticed the Hills hoist spinning like mad. Yesterday, I woke from a nap to the smell of freshly baked apple pie – something she used to make when we’d visit. I asked hubby if I could bring in a psychic to see if his mum had unfinished business, but he refused. I don’t want to go against him, but I’m finding her presence very unsettling. What should I do? Monica*, 64 Are YOU in a tricky situation? Why not write in and let our readers help you out. Hubby is…

Burger bust! At a family barbecue, we told our great-grandchildren that until they had finished their burgers there was no ice-cream. All went well, but as my husband and I went to bed, we found bits of leftover burgers in our bed, tomato sauce and all! Yuck! We did have to laugh! Jean Albon, Werribee, Vic. Terrible fours Our granddaughter Mary, four, had taken to throwing rip-roaring tantrums whenever she didn’t get her own way. Our daughter, Kalia, Mary’s mum, was at her wits’ end. “The preschool teacher says she’s just exercising her willpower and it’s best to ignore her when she does it,” Kalia said as we watched Mary drop to the ground and start to scream when we told her it was time to go inside. “Seems more…

We love an adventure! Lily Christian, 26, Possum Creek, NSW. My mum, Sue, was grinning from ear to ear as she mounted her camel. It was her birthday and my identical twin Lauren, 26, and I had booked us all a camel ride along Noosa Beach to celebrate. “I love this, girls, thank you,” Mum said. It was August 2023, and a few years earlier, Lauren and I had ridden camels while visiting Broome, WA, so we already knew how to position ourselves properly in the saddle and relax our legs against the camel’s body. We’d also grown up on an alpaca farm and had been riding horses since we were 14 years old. Plodding along the seafront, we chatted to the cameleer, Wayne. “You and your sister are naturals,”…

When hubby caught my eyes wandering, he had an idea Betsy Porter, 41. As a beautiful woman walked past the restaurant table I was sharing with my husband Josh, I couldn’t help but turn my gaze towards her. She’s gorgeous, I thought. It was 2020, and Josh and I had been married for 13 years. We had three kids together – Grace, 10, Max, nine, and Abby, five, and we were in love. But since uni, I’d also had a thing for women. However, with devout Catholics as parents, I’d never acted on it, knowing they’d never approve. Turning back to Josh, I could tell something was on his mind. “What is it?” I asked. “Are we ever going to talk about your sexuality?” he said, taking me aback.…

I’m sharing my love of graveyards with the world Kerima-Gae Topp, 71, Parramatta, NSW. A large photograph of a tombstone flicked up on the screen behind me. On top was a carving of a tram. “What does it represent?” I asked the captivated audience. People scratched their heads, pondering. “Did he drive a tram?” one man asked. “He was killed by the tram he was driving,” I responded, plainly. It was 2019, and I was in the middle of my ‘Talking Tombstones’ presentation which I’d given at social clubs and historical societies around the world. For years, I’d lead historic tours around Sydney in my 14-seater minibus. Recently, however, I’d developed a fascination with graveyards and had become the treasurer of several cemetery groups in Parramatta. Every headstone, I realised,…

Trimming your brows will allow more time between appointments FICTION “Avoid trimming brows excessively. At Amy Jean Brows Agency, we don’t trim because it can lead to quicker regrowth that appears blunt and requires more frequent salon visits.” – Amy Jean, founder of Amy Jean Brows Agency. Fragrance never expires FICTION “It’s like youth – it eventually disappears and doesn’t maintain its tenacity. Fragrances hate light and heat the most. Storing it in a cool, dark area can help prolong its lifespan.” – Jo Malone, perfumer and founder of Jo Loves You need to exfoliate before every fake tan FACT “Yes, prepping is so important. Exfoliating and moisturising will set you up for an even finish. I love to start by exfoliating and moisturising any dry areas before…

SLAUGHTER FALLS With a name like Slaughter Falls this hiking trail within Queensland’s Mount Coot-tha Forest isn’t for the faint of heart. Named after JC Slaughter, a Brisbane City town clerk, the track has a reputation for murder, suicides and lingering spirits. In 1925, a woman was shot by a man hiding in nearby bushes. The man was a stranger to her and when police questioned him as to why he’d done it, he said something just came over him . Creepy! The following year, the falls was the site of a double suicide when two men took their own lives, with the reasons why still a mystery. Then, in 1927, in an attempted murder-suicide, a man took his girlfriend out for a walk, shot her in the head and…

I’ll live happily ever after in my real-life Aladdin’s cave Claudia Rubinstein, 66, Melbourne, Vic. Putting down my paintbrush, I stood back and admired my work. The feature wall in our guest bedroom was adorned with a rainforest scene boasting bright trees and moss. It had taken me four weeks to complete, and now the room almost looked alive with nature! “It’s beautiful,” my husband, Craig, marvelled. Next, I decorated it with an ornate gilded bed, gold side tables and skirtings, quirky lamps and my own artwork. I’d been painting since I was a little girl. Growing up listening to the Grimms’ Fairy Tales as part of my German heritage, I was inspired by the magical creatures and fairies, and imagined them to exist in real-life scenarios. It carried through…

While you might know that it’s best to stop eating for the day around 8pm each night to give your body a minimum of 10 to 12 hours overnight without food, when you’re up late, haven’t eaten properly during the day or are trying to eat in a calorie deficit, it’s not uncommon to feel a little peckish a couple of hours after dinner. The trick with late-night snacking is to steer clear of sugary, high-fat treats such as ice-cream, biscuits and lollies, which are easy to overeat, and also do nothing to improve your sleep or digestion. Chocolate, even the dark variety, isn’t the best option as the caffeine and sugars it contains are likely to keep you up way beyond your planned bedtime. Instead, calorie-controlled options containing a…

Mix a small amount of white vinegar and bicarbonate soda to remove stains on chairs with material seats. Scrub with a toothbrush or small brush then rinse. If you can leave it out in the sun it comes up good as new. Judy Kessey, Busby, NSW. You can make a cheap and yummy pizza base with one-and-ahalf cups of self-raising flour and a cup of Greek yoghurt. I like to add some oregano, too. Pippa McMillan, Petone, NZ. I always take a sarong in my hand luggage when I fly somewhere. It makes a nice lightweight blanket to protect me from the blast of air-conditioning on planes. Jayne Thorburn, Wollongong, NSW. Before you use your barbecue, heat it up then run half an onion over the grill to clean off…

I imagined winning and it came true! Chris*, Sydney, NSW. The sun kissed my skin as I sat on the balcony of my new apartment, overlooking the ocean. “This is bliss,” I said to my partner, Dan*, who gazed out over Surfers Paradise below. I didn’t have a worry in the world. The entire building was mine – I was absolutely loaded! Just then, my eyes shot open to my alarm and Dan snoozing next to me. It was all a dream, I realised. In reality, I was 26 and Dan and I lived in Sydney. Since moving to Australia, I’d struggled to find work with my marketing degree, and now I worked at a bakery. It wasn’t ideal. Dan and I wanted a family but had vowed to…

If you’re familiar with Hollywood movies, you probably think you know all there is to know about Halloween. Wrong! Often mistakenly thought of as an American holiday, many countries around the world celebrate their own versions of Halloween. While it continues to gain popularity in Australia, here’s how some other countries mark the day… ENGLAND Although Halloween is gaining momentum in England, traditionally another event has dominated this time of the year. Guy Fawkes Day is held on November 5 and dates back to 1605 . It marks the failed assassination of King James I by Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators, when they tried to blow up Parliament in the infamous Gunpowder Plot. The holiday is celebrated with bonfires, and instead of trick-ortreating, children will ask for a ‘penny for…