Table of contents for TAK2607 in Take 5

When I was younger and got a set of fluro markers for Chrissy, I was stoked! They were the brightest things I’d ever seen. I was maybe six years old and brought the markers to school. My classmate wanted to use them. As a twin, I’d learned early to share so let him have a go, but I was colouring something with the pink one. Next thing, he flew off the handle and threw his hands around my neck in a strangling motion. I was shocked! All this because of a marker?! The teacher intervened and no-one was hurt but it stayed with me. That classmate may have bullied me but years later, we became friends on Facebook. He’s married with kids and a successful career now. A changed man.…

Walking into the cafe, I waved to my friend, Kendra. It was 2020, and I badly needed someone to talk to. Aged 20, I was working as a social media marketer for a real estate company, and while it provided stability, I was feeling very unfulfilled. Before we sat down, a middle-aged man at a nearby table started talking to me. Without prompting, he revealed that he was going through a divorce. “It’s the first time I’ve been truly alone,” he said, tearing up. “I have no-one to turn to.” I paused and listened without interjecting. “I’m sorry for telling you all this,” he said. “You just have such a friendly face.” “I don’t mind listening,” I reassured him. “You’ll be all right.” Kendra giggled as we sat down. “Why…

Born on June 28, 1972, Tara Lynn Grant grew up close to her sister Alicia and later graduated with a business degree from Michigan State University. By her mid-30s, she was working as a senior consultant for Washington Group International, a global engineering and construction firm that required frequent travel across the United States and overseas. Despite the demands of her job, Tara’s priority was always her home life. She and her husband, Stephen Grant, lived in Washington Township, Michigan where they raised their seven-year-old daughter and their three-year-old son. To help juggle work and parenting, the couple employed a 19-year-old German au pair, who lived with the family. From the outside, the Grants appeared stable, successful and comfortable. But behind closed doors, the marriage was under constant strain. Tara’s…

Banoffee sundaes SERVES 6 PREP 20 MINS COOK 5 MINS ¼ cup chopped macadamia halves 1 cup chopped Butternut Snap Cookie ½ cup thickened cream 2 large bananas, sliced diagonally 12 scoops vanilla ice-cream CARAMEL SAUCE ¾ cup caster sugar ½ cup thickened cream 1 CARAMEL SAUCE Gently stir sugar and ¼ cup water in a large saucepan over a low heat until sugar is dissolved. Gently boil, without stirring, for about 5 mins, or until golden brown. Remove from heat. Quickly add cream, taking care as mixture will rise rapidly. 2 Return pan to a low heat. Stir until smooth. Pour into a heatproof jug. Cover surface with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for about 1 hour, or until thickened but pourable. 3 Place nuts on an oven tray.…

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I was chatting with a friend in the playground when she nudged me and nodded at something over my shoulder. I turned to see Dale standing there, a smirk on his face. “Tramp!” he shouted, before bursting into laughter. My cheeks burned as I stared at my feet, just wishing the ground would swallow me up. I was only seven years old, yet I already knew what it felt like to be singled out. From my first day at primary school, Dale had decided to make me his punchline. He’d shout the odd mean comment to others, but I was his main target. He was part of the cool crowd – confident, popular, from a family with money. He always had a fancy packed lunch and wore designer labels on…

Getting home from the gym, I started my weekly meal prep. Afterwards, I turned off the stove and spooned chicken pasta into separate tubs. “Come on Blu! Let’s go for a walk,” I yelled, to my beloved two-and-a-half-year-old Siberian husky. Aged 23, I was a hard-working medical assistant at a doctor’s office. I loved working out, fashion and photography. Getting dressed up with my girls and doing photoshoots around the city was my favourite thing to do. At home, I lived with my parents, Luz, 56, and Nelson, 60. Getting Blu ready for his usual night-time stroll, I remembered I’d thrown out his normal rope lead because it had become tattered. I went hunting in the garage and found a blue retractable lead I hadn’t used for years. “Perfect,” I…

Walking to lunch with my friends, a boy stepped in front of us. He tucked his arms into his sleeves, pretending to be armless. “Look at me,” he said. “I’m handicapped just like you.” I fought back tears as I walked away. It was 1997 and I was 14 – an age when fitting in felt more important than ever. Bullying was something I’d grown used to. I’d been born without both arms; they simply never developed in utero. It came as a shock to my parents, as none of the scans had shown any abnormalities. Doctors told them I would always be dependent on others, but I proved them wrong. By five, I could write, thread a needle and dismantle pens using my feet and toes. I’d tried prosthetic…

Opening my eyes, I blinked against the harsh white light. As my vision slowly cleared, a sickening realisation washed over me – I was in hospital. “Dad?” I croaked. My father, Gary, 50, was sitting beside my bed. His face looked drawn and exhausted, deep lines etched around his eyes, which were rimmed red with worry. “Oh, thank goodness you’re awake,” he said, squeezing my hand. I turned my head and noticed a handsome young man standing beside him. He looked nervous. “Who are you?” I asked. “I’m Laurence,” he said softly. “Your boyfriend.” My boyfriend? I stared at him, my heart thudding. I had never seen him before in my life. It was September 2018, and I had just woken up in hospital to a life I didn’t recognise.…

Portuguese chicken and fries SERVES 3-4 PREP 15 MINS PLUS 1 HOUR MARINATING COOK 45 MINS PIRI PIRI CHICKEN 5-6 bird’s-eye chillies (or fresh piri piri), stems removed 3 cloves garlic, crushed ½ small onion, roughly diced 2 dried bay leaves, crushed Juice 1 lemon 2 tsp olive oil 1 tbsp smoked paprika 1 tsp dried oregano 1 tsp salt 1 tsp fresh cracked black pepper 3-4 chicken Maryland supreme (skin on, about 350g each) TWICE FRIED FRIES 5-6 brushed potatoes, washed and peeled 3 tsp salt (or to taste) Vegetable oil, for frying DIPPING SAUCE 1-2 tbsp reserved piri piri marinade (from step 1) ¾ -1 cup mayonnaise (adjust depending on desired spiciness) 1 CHICKEN Combine chillies, garlic, onion and bay leaves in blender. Blend until smooth but…

Pounding my foot into the pavement, my skateboard quickly gained momentum. I planted my foot back on the deck, jumping as the board rotated below my sneakers. Landing cleanly, I looked out at the crowd of 600 strangers, cheering me on. It was 2007 and I’d entered a skate competition on a whim while visiting family in Sydney. I was a shy 16-year-old skater from North Queensland and didn’t think I had a chance. “First place goes to… Jay Macaskill,” the judge called out, and the crowd erupted. My legs shook as I claimed the trophy. I also received a sponsorship from Outsider, a community-based skateboarding organisation, to help me enter future comps. Returning home, I continued to hone my skating skills, working on grinding and kickflips. In my early…

Climbing into Dennis Pegg’s small truck, I felt excited. “This is our secret,” Dennis said, cracking open a beer and handing it to me. “Sure thing,” I replied. It was 1974. I was nine years old and thought it was exciting to secretly drink alcohol. Dennis was my older brother Jay’s Boy Scout master and had become a close friend of our family. I idolised him. He was also a guard at the local jail and would tell us fascinating stories about his work. The first time he asked me to keep a secret was two years earlier. He offered me a dollar if I let him touch the scar on my chest from recent heart surgery. “We can’t be buddies if you can’t keep secrets,” he said. “I can…

The mere mention of money tends to make people feel uncomfortable. We all need it, we all want it, and yet we somehow never feel like we have enough of it. According to personal wealth expert Andrew Woodward, you may be self-sabotaging your finances. “When you ‘self-sabotage’ your own finances, it means your current money habits don’t line up with your goals,” he explains. “You may still be earning money, however, your spending patterns are quietly pulling you towards the opposite direction. You’re spending to relieve stress, ignoring debt and delaying your investments only for short-term satisfaction.” He adds: “Most of the time, self-sabotaging your finances is done subconsciously. People have been conditioned to make impulsive decisions with money without thinking of the long-term consequences.” FUTURE FINANCES A common way…

Greek butterflied chicken SERVES 4 PREP 15 MINS COOK 40 MINS 1.5kg chicken, butterflied ¼ cup olive oil, plus 2 tbsp extra 1 tbsp dried oregano 4 cloves garlic, crushed Zest and juice of 1 lemon 4 large potatoes, cut into ½ cm-thick slices 1 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary 3 zucchini, thickly sliced 2 red onions, cut into wedges 2 lemons, halved Fresh oregano leaves, to serve 1 Place chicken in a large dish. Rub combined oil, oregano, garlic, lemon juice and zest all over chicken. Marinate 30 mins. 2 Heat a barbecue plate to medium. Cook chicken 20 mins, turning regularly, until charred all over. Transfer to a disposable barbecue tray. Cook for a further 15-20 mins with the lid closed or until chicken is cooked. 3…

PISCES Feb 20–Mar 20 You’re in a super powerful cycle but you need to stay mentally positive to make the most of it. If you start spiralling, discipline your mind. The most important thing now is to be aware of your thoughts and not to indulge in too much negativity. ★ Remember, thoughts become things! ARIES Mar 21–Apr 20 Expect your friendship group to go through some changes over the coming year. Don’t cling on to friends who are clearly not aligned with your values. New people will drift in… as others drift out, and that’s exactly how it’s meant to be right now. ★ Trust who stays and goes. TAURUS Apr 21–May 21 There’s a massive restart coming professionally. It could be the best thing that’s ever happened to…

What a howler! Our dog suffers separation anxiety when we go out so we decided to try a plug-in device that’s supposed to calm him down. We arrived home from a sporting event and our dog was still howling. “How long do you think he’s been doing that?” I asked. “Probably a couple of hours. But I could be barking up the wrong tree,” my husband quipped. Jan Elton, Attadale, WA. Summer memories WE PAY $100 FOR EACH LETTER PRINTED Reading Kim’s letter (issue 51) about summer holidays as a kid reminded me of spending time with my aunt and uncle on the NSW Central Coast back in the early ’80s. My little sister and I would stay with them and my three cousins for two weeks every January. We’d…