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I bet you’ve never looked at your tea towel and thought of it as life-changing! Well, who knew, they can be transformative! Thirty years since I’d started school, an old classmate posted a hilarious photo on Facebook. It was of a tea towel the school had made when we were six, covered in our self-portraits. The sketches depicted funny-shaped heads, freckles and sausage lips. People who hadn’t spoken in decades commented on her post about old times. Then the life-changing thing happened – she married one of them! All thanks to the tea towel. Louise on page 10 this week ended up on a three-year adventure thanks to hers. I bet you won’t look at yours in the same way again! I loved the stories on page 54 about how…

When it came to caring for the pensioner next door, my man took it too far Genevieve Smith, 54. I blinked back tears as my boyfriend, John, packed his bags for the airport. “It’ll be tough, but we’ll make the distance work,” he promised with a sad smile. I nodded. “We’ve done it before,” I whispered. John, 46, had been living with me for the past few months and I’d loved having him around. I’d only been looking for a bit of fun when we started chatting online nine months earlier but instead, I’d fallen head over heels in love. John was smart, funny and incredibly sexy. There was just one problem – he lived in another country and now he had to return home. I was certain our connection…

Roasted potatoes with herbs & green olives SERVES 4 PREP 10 MINS COOK 35 MINS 1kg kipfler potatoes, scrubbed, halved ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil, plus ¼ cup extra 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced 2 tbsp finely chopped mint 2 tbsp finely chopped parsley 1 tbsp finely sliced chives 2 tbsp lemon juice 10 green olives, pitted, coarsely chopped Lemon cheeks, to serve 1 Preheat oven to 200°C. Line a roasting dish with baking paper. 2 Place potatoes into a large saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring to boil. Cook 15 mins or until potatoes are almost tender. Drain well. Return to saucepan off the heat and allow potatoes to dry out slightly. 3 Toss potatoes and oil and garlic. Season. Arrange in tray, then lightly…

Having a baby with my bestie was so much fun! Lisa Messenger, Bangalow, NSW. Staring into little baby Gracie’s eyes, I realised I was ready to do whatever it took to become a mother. Maybe I could adopt her? I wondered. For much of my adult life, my career, as the founder of the multimedia brand Collective Hub, had always been my main focus. But as I’d gotten older I yearned for a baby. In 2015, I’d fallen pregnant with my partner, but I miscarried weeks later, leaving me heartbroken. When my relationship ended, I booked a trip to Bali in 2016 to visit an orphanage. “I just want to go and hug babies,” I told my friends. It was at the orphanage that I fell in love…

My silly idea turned out to be the perfect way to explore New Zealand Louise Wynn, 65, Fairlie, NZ. Driving through the harbourside town of Houhora, I beamed. We’d just gone past yet another Four Square store – a chain of grocery shops I’d grown up with in New Zealand. No wonder they’re iconic, I thought. They really are everywhere. It was April 2021, and I was headed to Cape Reinga with my daughter Ruth, 34, who was dropping me off to hike the first part of the Te Araroa trail. As an avid hiker, I dreamed of exploring all the picturesque places New Zealand had to offer. Recently, I’d bought a commemorative tea towel marking Four Square’s 95th year and listed on it was the chain’s 225 stores…

I’ve spent my life rifling through other people’s rubbish Anna Easton, 45, Dunedin, NZ. Blowing dust off an antique photo, I held it up to take a closer look. Just then, my grandma Joan, 65, walked through the shed door. “I brought you a sandwich,” she said, handing me the plate. “Found any treasure yet?” “Loads,” I replied gleefully. I was seven years old and my parents often dropped my brother Rick, nine, and me off at my grandparents’ house in Kurow, NZ. My grandad Alvin was an auctioneer and his shed was full of trinkets. I adored rifling through them. When I was nine, my friends and I built a tree house in an open plot. “I want it to overlook the town dump,” I instructed. That way,…

Honey mustard & ginger beer baked ham SERVES 12 PREP 20 MINS COOK 1 HOUR 10 MINS ½ cup honey ½ cup ginger beer 2 tbsp ginger marmalade 1 tbsp wholegrain mustard 2 garlic cloves, crushed 3 sprigs fresh thyme 5kg half leg ham Combine honey, ginger beer, 1 marmalade, mustard, garlic and thyme in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low. Simmer 10 mins or until mixture thickens slightly (see Tip). Remove from heat. Set aside to cool. Using a sharp knife, cut through 2 ham rind about 10cm from the shank. Run your thumb under rind to separate it from the fat. Peel back and remove rind. Wrap shank end in foil. Place ham in a large disposable…

The connection we have with dogs and cats isn’t just good for our souls, it’s great for our physical health, too! Based on recent research, including that of the Human Animal Bond Research Institute, we share what it is about spending time with our furry friends that fills our cups. DOG-TOR, DOG-TOR! With hundreds of millions of households keeping dogs, it’s not surprising that there are many scientific research projects about the health benefits or otherwise that a dog can bring to your children. Authoritative veterinary medical news site, dvm360, reported on two studies presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI). These showed that a baby born in a home where there was a dog present during the pregnancy receives protection from allergic eczema, although…

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 Andrew Cook, 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…

I came out of the massage feeling violated and shaken Sarah Eccles-Smith, 36, Adelaide, SA. I placed the rowing machine handle back on its hook and then wiped the sweat from my brow as I tried to catch my breath. “We have a winner!” the gym instructor announced. It was 2014, and I’d just won the competition for fastest female rower at my gym. There were two prizes to choose from. “Would you like the massage or the meat platter?” the instructor asked me. “The massage, please,” I replied. That week, I made an appointment with the masseuse, Jason Hagon. Jason’s massage studio was inside his home, which he shared with his wife and kids. A few days later, he opened the door with a smile. “Come in,” he said.…

Constantly fighting with your partner can feel emotionally draining and frustrating, leaving you both hurt and disconnected. What once felt like a harmonious relationship can turn into a cycle of disagreements, miscommunication and unresolved tension. Whether it’s small daily conflicts or deeper-rooted issues, constant arguments can take a toll on emotional wellbeing and the health of your relationship. It’s normal for couples to disagree, but frequent fighting can feel like you’re stuck in a never-ending battle. “Some fights clear the air or release tension, others can even be beneficial for a couple as it may lead to developing new understandings or resolving more difficult issues,” explains relationship psychotherapist Lissy Abrahams. “This is very healthy and normal, and is different from unhealthy conflict that is often exhausting, recurring and entrenched…

Reuse old plastic bread or fruit and veggie bags to pick up your dog’s waste while out walking with them. Michelle Bondesan, Bentleigh East, Vic. When you’re cooking an American recipe that calls for buttermilk, mix one cup of regular milk with a tablespoon of vinegar and let it sit for 10 minutes. Shona Nowak, Tamworth, NSW. Shaving cream is great for cleaning the glass door of the shower. Spread it over the glass with a brush then wipe it off with a cloth. Christine Buchanan, Gosnells, WA. If you need to peel a sticky label off a jar, blast it with the hairdryer so it easily peels off. Terri Mitchell, Gawler, SA. Playing calming music can help calm down an agitated doggo. Theresa esa Brown, Margaret…

Espresso KitKat ice-cream cake SERVES 6 PREP 30 MINS + OVERNIGHT FREEZING 10 x 45g assorted KitKat chocolate bars, broken into fingers ¼ cup instant coffee powder 2 cups (500ml) double thick vanilla custard 1 litre vanilla bean ice-cream Mixed berries, to serve 1 Grease and line base and sides of an 18 x 28cm slice pan with baking paper, extending paper 2cm above pan. Crush 4 x Milk KitKat fingers in a snap-lock bag using a rolling pin. Transfer to a heatproof bowl. Sit bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Stir until melted. Quickly spoon into prepared pan, and spread evenly over base. Place in fridge 10 mins to set. 2 Dissolve instant coffee in 1½ tbsp boiling water. Stand 5 mins. Stir into custard. 3 Spoon…

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 – Dec 22 Mercury is now going retrograde in your sign which is bound to cause the odd upset. The more you can maintain your famous sense of humour now, the better. Expect things to go a little haywire, and do what you can to get ahead of mix-ups. ★This is a time replete with second chances. PISCES Feb 20 –Mar 20 It’s two steps forward and one step back when it comes to your professional life, and that’s okay. Don’t worry if you can’t achieve all your ambitions. You actually have a chance to now reassess your career goals. ★Aim high! GEMINI May 22 – June 21 The December New Moon is in your Love Zone so expect a chance to start all over again…

Better luck next time My grandson Levi, 16, wanted to leave school and swore to his dad that he was responsible enough to work with him in the family’s bakery. My son-in-law, Greg, agreed to give him a trial run over the school holidays. “Let’s see if you can get yourself out of bed at 3am every morning for two weeks,” Greg said. I called to ask Levi how his first day went. “Not good, Nan. I set my phone alarm for 3am but did it on my calculator by mistake,” Levi grumbled. Susan Fong, Brigadoon, WA. WE PAY $100 FOR EACH LETTER PRINTED Surprise blessing Reading Sam Jones’s story in issue 39 about her having babies at 52 reminded me of when I came home from school and my…