Table of contents for TAK2452 in Take 5

Drinking was my norm, until my son said something that shocked me Belinda Stark, 55, Mount Martha, Vic. Opening my eyes, I felt my head pounding. “I overdid it again last night,” I groaned to my husband, Andy, 47. I tried to recall the night before, but it was fuzzy. Swinging my legs out of bed, I looked down at my shaking hands. Nothing a strong coffee won’t fix, I thought. But standing up, I felt dizzy and disorientated. In the kitchen, I placed empty wine bottles in the recycling bin, which was already full of them. It was the end of 2022 and I was 53. I ran a small fashion and retail store and looked forward to the holidays with Andy, and our son Max, 16.…

I was shaking so much I had to hand the phone to my hubby! Janette Lucas, 76, Ryde, NSW. My husband, John, 76, arrived back from the shops. “Got your fave magazine,” he said. “Good on you, love,” I replied. It was our weekly ritual. Every Thursday morning, John bought me a Take 5, and I would do the puzzles to get my brain going. Then, before I went to bed at night, I read all the stories. I’ve been doing this since it launched in 1998. My daughter Natalee, 48, enjoys the puzzles, too. Then, in January 2024, I noticed that Take 5 and other Are Media magazines were running the Magazine Millionaire competition. “I’m going to enter,” I said to Natalee. “I’ll help you,” she offered. Money…

Turkey waldorf cups SERVES 8 PREP 20 MINS COOK 15 MINS 4 sheets filo pastry 200g cooked roast turkey, finely chopped 1⁄3 cup mayonnaise 1⁄3 cup chopped parsley 1⁄3 cup chopped walnuts 1 celery stalk, trimmed, chopped, leaves reserved 2 tsp wholegrain mustard 1 lemon, grated zest, 1 tbsp juice ¼ cup sliced red grapes 1 Preheat oven to 160°C. Lightly grease a 24-hole mini muffin pan. 2 Place one sheet of filo on a clean surface. Spray with oil. Place another sheet on top. Repeat, twice more. 3 Cut 24 x 6cm squares from pastry stack. Press each into recesses to line. Bake 10-12 mins until light golden and crisp. 4 Meanwhile, in a bowl, combine turkey, mayonnaise, parsley, nuts, celery, mustard and lemon (zest and juice). Season…

I left everything to be with the love of my life Henny Stalenberg, 88, Sydney, NSW. I glided across the dance floor and, feeling someone’s eyes upon me, I turned to see a tall, handsome man in a navy uniform. Who is that? I wondered. It was 1954 and, aged 17, I was at a dance in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, with my best friend, Johanna. We were competing in a dance contest, and although I didn’t care much for my dance partner, Hans, I was determined to win. First prize was a carton of chocolate milk – my favourite drink. When Hans and I were announced as the winners, I was elated, but my mind was preoccupied with another prize. I found Johanna and told her about the man…

I thought the weather was mild, until blisters appeared on my legs Cassidy Flynn-Troy, 23, Melbourne, Vic. Unzipping the tent, I poked my head out and smiled seeing the sun was shining brightly. “It’s such a lovely day,” I told my friend who was sharing the tent with me. “Dry but not too hot.” “Perfect weather for a festival,” she smiled. It was New Year’s Eve, 2023, and my friends and I had been at Beyond the Valley festival in Hesse, Vic, for the last three days. Tonight was the last night. We readied ourselves for the day, putting on sunscreen and getting dressed, before heading into the festival arena. We spent the day dancing to the music and drinking outside in the sun. The temperature was only around…

Our bub couldn’t make our wedding, so we took it to her Cassidy Barlow, 22, Caboolture South, Qld. Stitched onto the Christmas stocking in my hands was the name Delylah. Tears filled my eyes as I imagined what I would have gotten for my little girl. It was December 2020, and my heart ached from the loss of our baby only six months before. Delylah had been stillborn after I’d contracted parvovirus, which attacked my placenta. The prospect of trying again scared me – I couldn’t handle losing another. But doctors confirmed that Delylah’s passing wasn’t genetic. “Delylah would have wanted siblings,” my partner James, 18, said. “You’re right,” I agreed. Now, at 18, I was six months’ pregnant with our second child – a son. His due date…

Choc-dipped cherry custard tartlets MAKES 12 PREP 15 MINS + 10 MINS SETTING COOK 15 MINS Cooking oil spray, to grease 24 wonton wrappers 1 tsp caster sugar 36 cherries with stalks still attached, chilled 100g dark chocolate, melted 375ml thick vanilla custard Icing sugar, to dust 1 Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease a 12-hole, 1⁄3 cup-capacity muffin tin with cooking oil spray. Arrange 12 wonton wrappers on a clean surface and brush each with a little water, then sprinkle over 1 tsp caster sugar. Top each with another wonton wrapper, at an angle, to create an 8-point star, then put wonton stars into prepared tin holes. Bake stars 15 mins or until crisp, then set aside to cool. 2 Meanwhile, line an oven tray with baking paper. Dip…

He was supposed to be my best mate Greg Parsons, 52. GUILTY INNOCENT My best mate Brian Doyle grinned wickedly. “Watch this,” he said. Then he tossed a kitten in the air and caught it. The poor thing hissed in fright. “Brian, leave it,” I snapped, horrified. What’s wrong with him? I thought. He was always doing weird stuff or telling lies. Both 12, we were chalk and cheese, but we lived two doors from each other and had been mates for four years. When I was 16 and working at Burger King, my boss asked me to train the new girl, Tina. She was flame-haired and gorgeous, and within six months we were dating. Around the same time, some mates and I started a heavy metal band. “You…

HOME TIP Replace your pillows Did you know you should be replacing your pillows annually? And the start of the year is a great time to do it. Old pillows can contain germs and bacteria that contribute to allergies and skin issues, as well as leave you with sore muscles once they’re past their prime. TIP Purify the air Pollution can be just as bad inside the house as outside. Start the new year by replacing the filters in your air-conditioning unit, vacuum cleaner and dryer. You could even add an air purifier or opt for some greenery like devil’s ivy or rubber plant. They are nature’s air purifiers. TIP Go green lifestyle Shrink your bills and help the environment by making simple changes at home. Turn off the lights…

My little body hasn’t stopped me living a big life Suchita Vanessa Smith, Hamilton Hill, WA. Strolling back home after a day at the beach, I chatted to my friend, Rose. We were both 11 and had spent the day swimming in Madora Bay. Suddenly, Rose looked at my legs and scrunched up her nose. “You’ve got funny ankles,” she said. “No, I don’t,” I replied defensively. But deep down, I knew she was right. My ankle bones were swollen three times the size of hers. As a tot, I’d been diagnosed with skeletal dysplasia, a disorder that affects bone and joint growth. It meant I was smaller than other kids and had been wheeled about in a pram until I was three. When I started school, I was picked…

On New Year’s Eve 2018 police received a frantic call from a woman named Kemia Hassel. She said her husband Tyrone Hassel had been shot multiple times on the driveway of the home they shared with their two-year-old son. “Help me, he’s dying,” she screamed down the phone hysterically. She claimed she’d heard gunshots and raced outside to find her husband unresponsive on the driveway and riddled with bullets. Emergency services were sent over to the house, where they discovered a gruesome scene. Kemia, 22, was on the ground sobbing, covered in blood, hugging her lifeless husband. Sadly, they were too late to save Tyrone, 23, leaving his wife devastated. Or so they thought… Kemia told the police she’d stayed home that evening with her son, while Tyrone had…

CAPRICORN Dec 23 –Jan 20 As the old year becomes new, you may have a fresh lease on life that you’ve not felt in years. With a feeling of endless possibilities, what might you focus on in 2025? Hint; build some foundations. ★The more solid your domestic life is, the better your year will be. ARIES Mar 21 –Apr 20 What do you hope to achieve in the new year? Be aware that things may not get off to a quick start. Instead, consider what you need to reconfigure in your life on a day-to-day basis. ★ Little habits have a compounding effect. CANCER June 22 – July 23 Do you ever have an inkling, yet don’t act on it? As the old year becomes new, you’re being asked…

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