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We’ve all seen the hilarious photos of screaming kids on Santa’s lap, but have you seen a giant bunny? The big man in red got quite the surprise when Jaziah turned up with her oversized pet! Check it out on page 19. Have you had a holiday romance that no-one thought would last, but you’re still going strong, like Mona on page 22? If so, we’d love to hear from you. While Christmas can be a time of pure joy, we know there are many reasons you might be wishing the whole thing could just be over with, especially if you are navigating the grief of a loved one. Our health story has a few tips to cope with this during the festive holidays. Have a read on page 12.…

I went to blend the Boxing Day curry and did THIS to my finger Jennifer Jones, 39. The fairy lights twinkled on the Christmas tree as my baby slept peacefully in his bassinet. “Are you sure we’ve got everything?” my husband, Nick, 39, called out. I rolled my eyes and lugged the last of our bags into the hallway. “Yes, I’ve checked and checked again,” I replied. Nick and I had been married for two years when we had our first child, Franklin, eight months, who we called Frank for short. Since he’d arrived, we’d collected endless amounts of baby gear that needed to come on trips with us. Nick and I shoved it all into the car, squeezing the boot shut before I buckled Frank into his baby…

Pink fantasy mallow wreath SERVES 20 PREP 30 MINS + CHILLING COOK 5 MINS 280g pkt pink and white marshmallows 2 tbsp milk 290g pkt White Choc Melts, melted, plus extra 290g pkt, melted to decorate 3 cups (120g) rice bubbles ¾ cup (130g) raspberry licorice twists, chopped ½ cup shredded coconut Pink cake sprinkles, Raffaello, musk sticks, candy canes, to decorate 1 Draw a 25cm circle on a sheet of baking paper. Place paper, marked-side down, on a greased baking tray. Cut 1 cup (80g) marshmallows in half and set aside. Place remaining marshmallows in large microwave-safe bowl with milk. Microwave on High 1 min or until melted. Stir until smooth. Cool 5 mins. 2 Add melted chocolate to melted marshmallow mixture with rice bubbles, licorice, coconut and…

When it comes to Christmas, there’s more than one way to celebrate. Depending on where you are, different countries put their own merry spin on this traditional holiday, from rollerskating in Venezuela to witches in Norway. Here are some more of the quirkiest Christmas traditions from around the world… ICELAND In Iceland, celebrations include Yule Lads – a group of mischievous figures who descend from the mountains in the 13 days leading up to Christmas. Every night, children place a shoe by their window, and depending on whether they’ve been good or bad, a Yule Lad will descend from the mountains to leave them a treat or a rotten potato. Each Yule Lad has a different personality and habit, which is reflected in their name. There’s the ‘Spoon-Licker’, ‘Window-Peeper’, ‘Candle-Stealer’…

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Cancer won’t stop me making Christmas special for strangers Chloe Dodunski, 36, Halcombe, NZ. Knocking on the door, I stood back clutching the brightly wrapped Christmas presents. A woman opened the door and grinned at me. “You’re an angel,” she said, then took the presents and hugged me. “I don’t know how to thank you,” she said tearfully. “Glad to help,” I replied. And I meant it. I’d set up my own informal charity in 2015, collecting and handing out Christmas parcels to families in need. It started with me giving four presents to families I’d come across on Facebook, but over the years it grew. Now, in Christmas 2023, I’d collected and wrapped 75 parcels of children’s presents and food, which I hand-delivered in my red car, like…

My big bunny loves cosying up to Santa each year! Jaziah Holland, 23, Katherine, NT. I typed ‘rabbit’ into the search function on Gumtree. Immediately, an advert for a ‘meat rabbit’ came up alongside a photo of a sweet grey and white rabbit, and a description stating he was 14 weeks old. He looked bigger than normal for one so young. “Want to come with me to look at a rabbit?” I asked my neighbour, Eliza. “Sure,” she replied. I was in South Australia visiting relatives. I’d grown up with rabbits and even bred them as a teen, but it’d been a while since I had one in the house. When Eliza and I got to the farm in May 2021, I explained to the farmer that I wanted the…

My hubby accused me of flirting with Santa… Storm Gubby, 40. Stepping through the double doors, I gasped at the twinkling lights strung around us. A giant tree stood in one corner, covered in tinsel. It was Christmas 2015, and our local sports hall had been transformed into Santa’s grotto. “Look who it is, boys,” I said. “Santa!” my twins Jack and Ben, then three, squealed, racing across the hall. My hubby, Charlie, 35, and I looked on smiling with our five-week-old baby, Oliver, snoozing in his stroller. Santa was in his 60s, with a bushy white beard, wearing a bright red padded suit. He sat on a throne and when the twins’ turn came, I lifted them onto his lap and took photos. “They’re so excited to meet…

Moroccan-spiced pumpkin rice salad SERVES 4-6 PREP 20 MINS COOK 15 MINS 2 tsp ground cumin 2 tsp ground coriander 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tbsp sea salt flakes 800g Kent pumpkin, skin-on, cut into 2cm-thick slices 1 red onion, cut into wedges 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 2 x 250g microwave basmati rice 400g can chickpeas, drained 250g whole fresh beetroot, roughly chopped 60g baby spinach and rocket mix BALSAMIC DRESSING ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar 1 tsp dried parsley 1 Preheat oven to 220°C. Line 2 oven trays with baking paper. 2 In a small bowl, mix cumin, coriander, cinnamon and salt. Set aside. 3 Divide sliced pumpkin and red onion wedges across trays. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with…

To stop tinsel from shedding, freeze for 24 hours before hanging. Danielle Hayes, Tangambalanga, Vic. If you’re shopping for Christmas gifts online, shop from stores in the person’s area to reduce shipping costs a little. Sally Ng, Geelong, Vic. I bottle homemade jams and chutneys to give to family for Christmas. It makes an affordable gift and people know it’s made with love. Marguerite Bennett, Bundaberg, Qld. If you draw a line in chalk around your dog’s food and water bowls, it keeps ants away. Christine Gill, Wollongong, NSW. Buy a vertical storage rack for your platters so you can store them easily and get what you want without rearranging the entire pile. Julia McCormick, Geraldton, WA. If you get sick of eating Christmas ham in the days after Christmas,…

I stood sweating in the supermarket queue, clutching my basket. It contained only a few items of food, but I was worried I wouldn’t have enough money to pay for it. “Fifteen dollars and 50 cents,” the woman said and I handed it over. “Merry Christmas!” she said. “And to you,” I replied, smiling with relief. Back at home, I unpacked my meagre shopping. “Let me help,” my mum Valerie, 73, said before breaking into a coughing fit. “No, Mum, you rest,” I said. I was 35, and Mum had been living with me in Sydney after falling ill. She’d worked all her life caring for others as a nurse for the elderly. Quitting acting in favour of a more regular income, I’d put all my savings into launching a…

Pork belly with charred pineapple & cucumber salsa SERVES 6 PREP 20 MINS + 15 MINS STANDING COOK 2 HOUR 10 MINS 1.5kg boneless pork belly roast ½ fresh pineapple (skin on), cut into 2cm-thick slices 2 Lebanese cucumbers 1 long red chilli, thinly sliced 2 limes, juiced, plus cheeks to serve 1 Pat pork dry with paper towel. With a small sharp knife, score rind lengthways at ½ cm intervals, being careful to not cut into meat. Rub rind with oil and sprinkle with plenty of salt. If time allows, place onto a plate, uncovered, in fridge 1 hour, or overnight (this dries the rind and helps produce better crackling). 2 Preheat oven to 240°C. Place pork in a roasting pan. Roast 40 mins. Reduce oven to 160°C.…

My doctor said the chances my waters would break were low… Ella Reindler, 37, Maddington, WA. Yawning, my partner pulled our prime mover off the road. “I think we should stop here for a bit,” Dave, 40, said. “Good idea,” I replied. It was 11:30pm in early December 2023, and we had just driven past Halls Creek, WA. Dave and I both worked for his family transport, engineering and drilling business. We often went on long distance drives out to rigs or to pick up or deliver trucks and equipment. On this particular job, we planned to drive from Perth to Kununurra and back again in a week, a 6200km round trip. The difference this time was that I was 34 weeks’ pregnant with our first child. My obstetrician…

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 – Dec 22 You know what they say about the more you know, the further you’ll go? This is the long range forecast you’re adapting to. This week though, do take heed of the various sources of information you get. ★The key to your future is in the wisdom other people have to offer. PISCES Feb 20 –Mar 20 You can have it all! It’s just not always possible to have it all at the same time. You may want one thing but your family may disagree. Talk it out – compromise is key. ★What you seemingly sacrifice now will repay you threefold. GEMINI May 22 – June 21 There is a flow of opportunities and options worthy of your consideration. Are they distractions or are they…