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You know when someone asks you a question and you’re so taken off guard you don’t really know what to say, but then later all these really great answers flood your brain?! Recently, someone said to me, “Tell me a fact about yourself that surprises people.” I immediately went into panic mode! I couldn’t think of one interesting thing about myself. With a bit of cajoling, by asking me about my hobbies and day-to-day life, she got out of me that I walk an hour to and from work each day. It definitely wasn’t as exciting as my friend’s fact, who revealed she’s a nudist who parties naked at festivals! But after reading our health story on page 12 this week, about the benefits of walking, maybe it’s not such…

Evelyn Davis, 23. Dancing to the music, I noticed mist billowing out of the machines in the concert hall. “I love this song,” my best friend Katie, 24, swooned, closing her eyes and swaying her body. “Me too!” I said happily. It was 2022 and we’d come to see a Dean Lewis gig. As big fans, we’d arrived early and had managed to get right up to the front. We had a great time and when I got home to my husband Elijah, 22, I couldn’t stop raving about it. The next day was a Thursday, so I went off to work at my admin job. By Sunday, I was tired and had a high temperature. “If I’m still feeling bad in the morning, I’ll go to the doctor,” I…

It’s no secret that thanks to transport, desk jobs and busy schedules, exercise is often the last thing on many agendas. In fact, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, almost half (44 per cent) of adults spend much of their day sitting – abig concern considering physical inactivity is closely linked to diabetes, some cancers, dementia, coronary heart disease and stroke. Luckily, to get active again you don’t have to start training for a triathlon or hit the gym twice a day, you just need to go for a walk. Dr Ross Walker, chief medical officer at Heart Smart Australia, reveals the ways in which walking can do your health some good and how you can get a pep back in your step. THEMAIN HEALTH BENEFITS OF…

If your dog is scared of thunderstorms, try rubbing them down with a dryer sheet to reduce the static build-up in their fur. It helps! Mila Gonzalez, Redwood Park, SA. Microwave peeled onions for 30 seconds before you chop them, so you don’t cry. Tina Joshi, Wagga Wagga, NSW. If, like me, you have trouble gripping things, cut up an old garden hose and use a strip of hose to cover over those wire handles on buckets. Naomi Grant, Beenleigh, Qld. I keep a few bulldog clips in my picnic basket that I use to secure a tablecloth to the picnic table so it stays in place. Sophie Ferreira, Fremantle, WA. Pineapple Lumps taste even better when you eat them straight from the freezer. Trust me on this! Martha Coleman,…

Sweet treat This magic multi-tasker doubles as a shaving cream, saving you precious shelf space and shower time. Its fluffy, lightweight formula contains niacinamide to help even out skin tone and shea butter for a silky smooth complexion, and it has a refreshing marshmallow scent for the ultimate shower time treat. Epzen Whipped Body Wash, $22 Berry best Sundae Body have launched a delightful berry-scented Shower Foam. The formula features AHAs to gently buff away at dead skin and unclog pores, leaving the complexion fresh and rejuvenated. Sundae Body Berry Exfoliating Shower Foam with AHA, $20 TOP TIP! If you suffer from keratosis pilaris (chicken skin), opt for products containing AHAs, which are known to help soothe the condition. Healthy hair This beloved brand known for its brushes has ventured…

Mellissa O’Connell, 54, Narellan, NSW. THEN NOW Hobbling along the shore, I tried my best to focus on the stunning view. “Let’s go back to the camp site,” my partner George weight. After that, said, noticing my limp. I sighed. It was 2018, and we’d come to Shoalhaven Beach, NSW, for a holiday, but it was impossible to ignore the grief both my knees were giving me. I knew it was down to my weight. Raising my son Joshua as a single mum, I’d found myself timepoor, and while he was always well fed, I’d often ended up ordering fast food for myself. Then, one day at work, aged 29, I tried moving a filing cabinet down some stairs when I tripped and broke my ankle. Getting around on crutches…

VIRGO Aug 24 – Sept 23 Knowing thyself really is the secret sauce to life. Career, love, joy and happiness – these all become easier when you know what you want. This week, an epiphany of sorts may arrive so trust it. ★ When things don’t make sense, follow your gut. SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 – Dec 22 A turning point is possible in a professional or life context this week. If you’ve been contemplating a change or planning a move, you may get a cosmic green light or opportunity. Keep your cards close to your chest, though, just in case. ★ Remember, loose lips sink ships. PISCES Feb 20 – Mar 20 The more you impose limits, the more others want to encroach upon them. The only reason for people…

Lindsay Kinniburgh, 41, Gold Coast, Qld. Sitting at my desk at the hotel, I began daydreaming about holiday plans. I’d love to be in Bali, I fantasised. The balmy weather and long stretches of sand were a world away from London, where I was working for a resort as the marketing manager. It was November 2014, and the weather was icy. I made a mental note to book a Balinese escape and returned to my emails, when I noticed a marketing director had messaged me through the professional network, LinkedIn. I love your profile, he wrote. Would you be interested in a job in Bali? Attached were details for a position like mine at a hotel in Seminyak. Is this a joke? I thought. A quick Google search revealed…

Kyrah Johnson, 30, Perth, WA. An Instagram notification popped up on my phone. @they_call_me_bq loved your video, it read. “Again?” I said. It was July 2022, and I’d been posting videos showcasing my unique style. With my tight, bright outfits and body covered with tattoos, I always stood out in my home town of Perth. But I discovered many people around the world who were drawn to my bad-girl aesthetic. And this mysterious BQ seemed to be my number-one fan, having liked all my recent social media uploads. Clicking on his profile, I discovered his full name was Bryant Quintana. He lived in New York and had thousands of followers. I was impressed by his designer sneakers, tattoos and fancy cars. This is my kind of guy, I thought. Suddenly,…

Lisa Donaldson, 38. Looking at the white stick in surprise, I reached for my phone. Time to tell him, I thought, before calling my boyfriend, Stephen. “Everything all right, babe?” he asked. “I’m pregnant,” I said. It shouldn’t have been a shock. Stephen was desperate for us to start a family together, but I’d always held back. His issues with alcohol and drugs meant our relationship was volatile. It had taken years of pleading before I relented after seeing what a sweetheart he was when sober. “I’m going to be a dad?” Stephen gasped. “That’s great news.” We began talking about names and birth plans. And when we arrived at the hospital for our first scan, Stephen and I were nervous but excited. “This will feel a bit cold,” the…

Tim Booth, 33, Port Macquarie, NSW. With his hands clutching the steering wheel, my training officer, Phil, fired questions at me. “What if it’s an asthma attack?” he shouted above the wailing sirens. I answered as best I could, then Phil asked more questions. My heart was pounding with nerves. It was 2016, I was 25, and out on my first training shift as a paramedic, having recently qualified with my paramedic’s degree. I’d worked as a journalist before but had switched careers, keen for something less desk-bound. Now, we were speeding to an address in Western Sydney to a man apparently struggling to breathe. Myriad scenarios awaited us: a heart attack, an allergic reaction… ‘What a waste of time’ Phil parked the ambulance; I grabbed the defibrillator and we…