Table of contents for TAK2434 in Take 5

If you need something to smile about, turn to page 19 for the cutest story! Animal lover and Pilates instructor Stacey rescued two orphaned lambs, who have become class members while they need round the clock bottle feeding. There were so many adorable photos to choose from, we couldn’t fit them all in, so I’ve snuck an extra one here – look at that face! If you’ve got a story about rescuing animals, we’d love to hear from you. This week’s cooking cover story had the team divided. Our Features Ed, Tash, thought it looked like a lasagne gone wrong, but I went straight home to make it. It did not disappoint! Don’t miss another chance to enter our Queensland comp on page 18, where we’re giving away a trip…

I left the corporate world at 51 to become a male escort George Goulburn, 52, Sydney, NSW. Reading the paper one morning, a story caught my eye. A male escort had given a tell-all account of what it was really like working in the sex industry. It wasn’t surprising to read that sex itself was only part of the equation – rather, it was intimacy his clients were after. Of course women need to feel a connection, I mused. It was 2013. I was newly single and back out on the dating scene. While I had no trouble meeting women, and went on loads of dates, my 60-hour-a-week job meant I hardly had any time for a relationship. I also had a 15-year-old son from a previous marriage, who I…

After Mum, Dad and Nan died, I stepped in to raise my siblings... Mya Oakley-Dudgeon, 22, Lismore, NSW. Tucking into pancakes with extra maple syrup, I grinned. “This is delicious,” I said with a smile. My parents, Rebecca and John, had taken the family out for a special breakfast. It was nice for us to all be together again. It was 2018, and I’d just left home to live with my boyfriend, but I still spoke with my brother Lachlan, seven, and little sister, Freyiah, two, every day. “How are things at home without me?” I asked. “Great,” Lachlan teased, sticking his tongue out at me. Laughing, I grabbed him in a headlock. Lachlan and I were always roughhousing, but when I was at home and he was frightened during…

Country egg & bacon pie SERVES 4 PREP 25 MINS COOK 35 MINS 1 sheet frozen shortcrust pastry, thawed ¼ cup tomato chutney 1 onion, finely sliced 3 rashers rindless bacon, halved lengthways ½ cup grated tasty cheese 8 eggs parsley leaves, to serve 1 Preheat oven to 180°C. Lightly roll pastry sheet out with a rolling pin to fit a 25cm pie plate. Ease in pastry, crimping edges. Chill 15 mins. 2 Spread chutney over pastry base. Scatter over onion, bacon and cheese. 3Break eggs evenly over filling, pushing aside ingredients to allow eggs to seep into the base. Season to taste. 4 Bake 30-35 mins until filling sets and pastry turns golden. Scatter with parsley to serve. TOP TIP Swap tomato chutney for caramelised onion relish, if…

At the end of our darkest days, we had another wonderful reason to celebrate Nataasha Timmerman, 48, Gold Coast, Qld. When the pregnancy test was positive, I sobbed into my partner Adam’s arms. “We’re having a miracle baby,” I cried. I’d met Adam, 37, on a dating app four years earlier when I was 38, but my age and endometriosis had me certain babies wouldn’t happen for us. Adam had a daughter, Sienna, eight, from before, but I’d always wanted a child of my own. I’d endured two gruelling rounds of IVF and now, at 42, my dream of being a mum was coming true. We welcomed Ash into the world on October 29, 2018, and as his tiny hand curled around my pinky, I was elated. He was a…

He was the same age as my daughter, but I was smitten Malin, 52. As I snapped selfies to upload to social media, my phone pinged with an Instagram message. A user I didn’t recognise had asked about a picture I’d posted of my Labrador cross, Samson. Is this your dog? the person had written. Intrigued, I clicked on their profile but it was private, so I couldn’t see any photos. I never replied to messages from strangers, but this time, something told me to. Yes, it is. Isn’t he handsome? I typed back. He is. I’ve just bought a new puppy, they replied. We got chatting and I discovered his name was Aksi and he was from Mumbai, India. Bonding over our love of dogs, he asked me for…

Red pepper pasta with cheesy garlic crumbs SERVES 4 PREP 10 MINS COOK 30 MINS ½ x 200g packet garlic bread, torn 1 tsp lemon rind 2 tbsp shredded basil, plus extra leaves to serve 400g rigatoni pasta 600g jar of red peppers, oil reserved 1 long red chilli, seeds removed, coarsely chopped 3 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped 1⁄3 cup tomato paste 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 2 tsp fennel seeds 1 brown onion, diced 200g fresh mozzarella 1 Preheat oven to 220°C. Process garlic bread in a food processor until coarse crumbs form. Transfer to a tray lined with baking paper. Bake 10 mins or until golden. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly. Stir in lemon rind and basil and set aside. 2 Cook rigatoni…

I finally found the Zen I was chasing… Kate Engler, 56, Queenscliff, Vic. I watched closely as the clay spun through my fingers on the wheel. It was my fourth attempt at making a bowl. Suddenly, the clay split and fell apart. I don’t remember this being so stressful! I thought in frustration. Many years had passed since I’d tried pottery, so I’d enrolled in a “ceramics for newbies” class at a local studio called Be My Keeper. It was 2016, and I was a solo parent at 48 to my two boys, Mantis, 12, and El, 10. I was also running my Meet the Press Masterclass, which enabled businesses to maximise their presence in the media. This fast-paced life had left me feeling overwhelmed and stressed. I’d hoped pottery…

LEO July 24–Aug 23 If you were feeling stuck financially or just lacking in your sense of self-confidence, that is likely to change now. It may even be a friend or trusted colleague who encourages you to take action to get things moving forward. ★It’s the action you resist that you most need to do. VIRGO Aug 24–Sept 23 As the Sun moves into your sign this week, you may find it easier to make choices and decisions that best reflect your own needs. You’re being pushed and pulled now and Mercury retrograde isn’t helping. ★Listen to your desires. LIBRA Sept 24–Oct 23 Life feels increasingly confusing, making it difficult to make decisions or take next steps. While it’s frustrating, you need to have faith that the challenges you face…

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Hubby’s lies drove me away but he refused to let me go unscathed Audrey Prosper, 41. I drummed my fingers nervously as the operator put me through to Detective Chris Hanney. “It’s Audrey,” I said when he answered. “Hey you,” he replied. “So you are a policeman,” I said, sighing with relief. I’d met Chris online, and when he told me he was a detective, I doubted him, knowing there were a lot of liars online. When I told him, he gave me his station number and, calling his bluff, I dialled it. So, I was pleasantly surprised to discover he was the real deal. At 38, Chris was double my age, but I was drawn to his maturity. He told me he had two children from a previous relationship.…

When you think of ballet, young dancers leaping through the air might be the first thing that comes to mind, but what if we told you ballet can offer a useful workout as we age, too? “Ballet can absolutely be a worthwhile and fulfilling activity for ageing women,” says Gregor Thieler, director at elite ballet school the Tanya Pearson Academy. “Many adults, including seniors, find joy, physical benefits and mental stimulation in taking up ballet or continuing their ballet practise later in life.” If you need more reasons to head to the barre, Gregor offers up some of ballet’s health benefits. PHYSICAL FITNESS A 2008 study on British Royal Ballet dancers showed that in seven out of 10 areas of physical fitness, they scored higher than elite swimmers – proving…

I cleaned my AirPods so they charge better, and now they last so much longer. Bonnie Li, West Auckland, NZ. I have started adding cottage cheese to pasta dishes to make them more filling. Virginia Morgan, Bunbury, WA. I always take a roll of masking tape with me when I stay in hotels. It’s so useful for covering those annoying LED lights. Marla Barnes, Kellyville, NSW. A muffin tray is great in the garden for pushing perfectly spaced indents into the soil. You can plant seeds into each one. Bonnie Nguyen, Frankston, Vic. Baby shampoo is great for cleaning make-up brushes and even glasses! Edith Hanson, Orange, NSW. I can’t believe I didn’t know this until recently, but if you use the back of a spoon to butter your bread,…

Coconut & strawberry pastry puffs MAKES 6 PREP 20 MINS COOK 25 MINS 2 egg whites 1 cup caster sugar 3 cups desiccated coconut, plus ½ cup extra 150g strawberries, finely chopped, plus 100g extra, sliced 3 sheets frozen puff pastry, thawed 1 ½ tbsp strawberry jam, plus ½ cup extra 1 egg, lightly whisked 1 Preheat oven to 180ºC/160ºC fan-forced. Grease and line an oven tray with baking paper. Using an electric mixer, beat egg whites in a large, dry, clean bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually add the sugar until thick and glossy and sugar dissolves. Stir in coconut and chopped strawberries. Cut pastry into quarters (squares). 2 For each pastry puff, place a piece of pastry on a clean work surface. Spread with 2 tsp of…

Usually considered a day trip destination, it’s worth extending your time in Bowral for a relaxed weekend away. Nestled in the picturesque NSW Southern Highlands, this quaint country town is the perfect destination to escape the hustle and bustle. Located just 90 minutes away from Sydney and two hours from Canberra, this charming town is close enough for a weekend break without any hassle. So, pack an overnight bag and escape to Bowral for some much-needed rest and relaxation… STAY Park Proxi Gibraltar Bowral is the perfect location if you really want to immerse yourself in the beauty and serenity of the Southern Highlands. Tucked away from the main drag, but still close enough to explore the town centre, this hotel has everything you need for a rejuvenating weekend. The…

After my diagnosis, I’ve found new ways to see the world Imogen Kars, 29, Brisbane, Qld. Holding the apple steady on the chopping board I focused on gripping the knife, but my hands were so swollen, I just couldn’t manage it. This isn’t normal, I thought anxiously. Since I was 12, I’d lived with multiple health issues – including blindness in my right eye and painful swelling affecting my hand dexterity – but I didn’t think of these things as “disabilities”, I just thought of them as part of me. Throughout my early 20s, I pushed through it and became a travel writer, hitchhiking around Europe, Turkey, Egypt and Morocco – I’d even visited India twice. Then, in March 2020, when I was 25, COVID hit. Forced to stay put…