Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 24, 2025 i that's life!

Are you green-fingered? I’ve always thought it must be nice to be able to grow your own herbs and vegies, or colourful flowers. My dad has always liked gardening, and my brother has a vegie patch at a community garden. Sadly, every plant I’ve ever had has come to an unfortunate end – or in some cases never really got going. I once bought a mint plant thinking it would be nice to make tea with the leaves. It was doing okay outside on the balcony until a huge storm left it stripped bare. Other herbs I’ve tried to grow have soon been covered in bugs, or turned brown. And I once managed to kill an ‘unkillable’ succulent, leaving it somehow dried out and over-watered so it was mushy in…

George is lucky to be alive after a freak farm accident George Ross, 77, Denmark, WA Roaming around the farm in my tractor, I breathed in the fresh country air. ‘Hey mates!’ I rallied the cattle for a feed. It was March 2024 and, despite working on the land for more than 50 years, my 220-acre farm was my slice of paradise. A cattle breeder, I’d spend every day tending to my herd of 90, distributing feed and fertiliser, repairing fencing, and other general maintenance. While I drove the tractor, my son Rodney, 52, was driving our truck. In the back of the truck were six bales of feed – a mixture of fermented grass perfect for cattle to munch on. The massive bales weighed anywhere between 500 and 600…

Reaching rock bottom, Jodie turned her life around Jodie Annabelle, 32, Gold Coast, Qld Peeling off the black hairdresser’s cape, I dusted hair from my client’s shoulders. ‘I love it,’ she smiled. But instead of paying me with cash, she placed a pouch of meth in my hands. ‘See you next time,’ I said. From the outside it seemed like I had my life together. I had a six-yearold son, a successful hairdressing salon, and was studying to further my career at TAFE. Behind the facade though, I was addicted to methamphetamine, known as crystal meth or ice. I’d first laid eyes on the drug a year earlier when I was 24. After a devastating break-up left my heart shattered, I couldn’t eat or sleep for a week. I did…

CHICKEN AND CAPSICUM TAGINE SERVES 4 PREP & COOK 40 MINS 600g chicken thigh fillets, chopped 1 large red onion, coarsely chopped 1 large red capsicum, cut into 2cm-wide strips 1 tbsp ground paprika 2 tsp ground cumin 400g jar tomato passata sauce 400g can chickpeas, drained, rinsed ⅓ cup raisins 1 tbsp honey 1 chicken stock cube, crumbled ½ cup chopped fresh coriander, plus extra leaves to serve Cooked couscous, to serve 1 Heat a lightly oiled, large, deep frying pan over a medium to high heat. Add chicken. Cook, turning occasionally, for 6-8mins, or until evenly browned. Add onion and capsicum. Cook, stirring, for a further 2 mins. 2 Stir in paprika and cumin to coat chicken and vegetables. 3 Stir in passata, chickpeas, raisins, honey, stock cube…

Mary was heartbroken when her sister Trish was tragically killed Mary Dees, 54 Unable to make my sister Trish’s 49th birthday party, in December 2021, I called her. ‘I’m so sorry,’ I apologised. ‘But next year when you’re 50, I promise it’ll be epic.’ There was almost three years between us. And while Trish and I lived hours apart, we spoke, emailed, and texted often. ‘I’d love it if we could live closer to each other,’ Trish said. After years working as a cardiovascular technician, in 2020 Trish had switched to real estate. A hard worker, even as a kid Trish had always sold the most Girl Scout bickies. Now she’d quickly become one of the top agents in her area. ‘I’m so proud of you,’ I’d tell her. Trish…

Did you know? Although it makes up only around two per cent of your weight, your brain uses about 20 per cent of your body’s total energy. Your brain is constantly active – even while you’re asleep – so it requires a steady supply of energy to keep things upstairs running. This vital organ is responsible for processing sensory input, controlling movement, managing emotions, regulating breathing, heartbeat and temperature, as well as thinking, problem-solving and memory. Fascinatingly, children’s brains use 50 per cent of their body’s total energy! 25,000 On average, an adult takes this number of breaths per day. SKIPPING A BEAT Although they may seem scary, heart palpitations – feeling your heart racing or skipping a beat – are usually nothing to be concerned about. Some causes include…

Grey & yellow A summery yellow isn’t just for the warmer months. It pairs perfectly with denim, warm browns and slate grey. The contrast makes for a striking palette to brighten up a winter’s day. Blue & brown Deep chocolate brown is trending everywhere, and looks best when broken up with a contrasting colour. Try a fresh powder blue or denim for a fun, earthy look. Splurge! Red & tan Bold red is here to stay for winter 2025. Rather than the typical match-ups of denim, cream or black, try some unexpected pairings like burgundy, and dark or light brown. Finish the look with crisp white! 5 OF THE BEST leave-in hair treatments Skip the salon for DIY with these powerful treatments which require no rinsing! Just shampoo, skip your…

Flowers have their own secret language and sending certain types of blooms can have very significant meaning. Are you elegant like a rose, cheerful like a daisy, bold like a poppy, or radiant like a sunflower? Take this quiz to find out which flower best represents you! 1 HOW WOULD YOUR FRIENDS DESCRIBE YOU? A Romantic and passionate B Fun-loving and optimistic C Adventurous and independent D Warm and nurturing 2 WHAT’S YOUR IDEAL WAY TO SPEND A WEEKEND? A A candlelit dinner with someone special B A picnic with friends in the park C A fun road trip D Gardening or helping out in your community 3 WHICH OF THESE SHADES ARE YOU MOST DRAWN TO? A Deep red, berry or burgundy B Soft white, ivory or eggshell C…

Your pets Your family Your friends Your world WE PAY FOR EACH PHOTO USED Lily jumped into my suitcase as soon as I opened it. She didn’t want to be left behind. Deborah Bowden, Rosebud, Vic Ruby and Lexi playing with their favourite ball! Nichole Farleigh, Springfield, Qld My granddaughter Luna loved her face paint. Paul Delaney, Carrum Downs, Vic $50 CASH WHAT’S ODD? PUZZLE HOW TO WIN... This image has been taken from the film Downton Abbey Movie. We have tinkered with it and added something that doesn’t appear in the original scene (7). Write which object doesn’t belong only on the entry coupon and you could be a winner. Turn to entry coupon (p50) to enter! My brother-in-law Gavin, dad Stephen, me and my husband Denis enjoyed a…

CONTENT WARNING that's life! CRIME FILE Waking up drenched in sweat with her heart pounding, Cheryl Bartlett could hardly breathe. Her nightmare of being shot by a stranger was terrifyingly vivid. Cheryl’s fiancé Bud, then calmed her down. But when she dreamed of being sexually abused and shot the following week, 18-year-old Cheryl wondered if she was going a little crazy. Her mother was wary. ‘Stay in the house. Don’t go out,’ she warned. But Cheryl was sure she could take care of herself. After all, it was just a scary dream. Together with their 15-month-old son Eric, she and Bud had moved into their own apartment on the other side of town to her parents just a couple of weeks earlier. It was the beginning of the rest of…

CHICKEN KUNG PAO WOW SERVES 4-6PREP & COOK LOW 3¼ HRS 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar 2 tbsp soy sauce 1 tbsp hoisin sauce 1 tbsp sesame oil 1 tbsp brown sugar 1 tbsp crushed ginger 1 tbsp crushed garlic 1 tsp chilli powder (optional) 1kg chicken thigh fillets, diced 2 red capsicums, sliced TO SERVE Steamed white rice 2 green onions, sliced 1 long red chilli, sliced ½ cup roasted peanuts 1 Let’s start by getting that sauce ready! Put all the sauce ingredients into your 5.5L (22-cup) slow cooker – that’s the balsamic vinegar, soy and hoisin sauces, sesame oil, sugar, ginger, garlic and ⅓ cup water. If you’re up for some heat, toss in the chilli powder too. Give it all a good whisk until everything is nicely…

MILKY BAR CHOCOLATE SELF-SAUCING PUDDING SERVES 8 PREP & COOK 50 MINS 1⅓ cups self-raising flour ⅓ cup cocoa powder ¾ cup caster sugar ¾ cup milk 1 egg, lightly beaten 100g butter, melted, cooled 170g block Milky Bar white chocolate, finely chopped  Chocolate ice-cream, to serve TOPPING  ¼ cup cocoa powder  ¾ cup firmly packed brown sugar 1 Grease an ovenproof dish (10-cup capacity).  2 Sift flour and cocoa into a large bowl. Stir in sugar. Add milk, egg and butter and stir until smooth. Spoon mixture into prepared dish. Smooth over top.  3 For the topping, sift cocoa into a medium bowl and stir in sugar. Sprinkle topping over pudding mixture.  4 Slowly pour 2½ cups boiling water over the back of a large metal spoon (to avoid…

DARING DELIVERY Mum-of-three Elizabeth Crooks, 26, had an exciting day ahead of her with plans to celebrate her birthday with loved ones. But from the moment she woke up, she felt unwell with nausea and dizziness. Living with several chronic illnesses, including postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), where the heart rate sky rockets after standing up too quickly, Elizabeth could sense something was amiss. She first phoned her mum to let her know about the symptoms, then she called emergency services to have an ambulance sent. Her mum headed off, making her way to Elizabeth’s place to take care of the kids. But while waiting for help to arrive, Elizabeth suddenly fainted, her heartbeat racing at 180 beats per minute – way above the average of 60 to 100 beats.…

EDITORIAL Editorial Director Kate Kirsten, Editor Sarah Firth, Deputy Editor Beth Young, Art Director Darren Monaghan, Picture Editor Holly Campbell ARE MEDIA Chief Executive Officer Jane Huxley, Director of Sales Anna Quinn, 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. ©2025. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or part without prior written permission. that’s life! is a registered trade mark of Are Media. Use of trademark strictly prohibited. Licensing Inquiries: www.contentshop.com.au / syndication@aremedia.com.au…

Harley’s illness had his parents hoping for a miracle Lisa McColl, 30, Brisbane, Qld Placing a kiss on my son’s forehead as he was wheeled into surgery, I fought back tears. ‘Mummy loves you,’ I whispered. At just five days old, our tiny boy Harley was having open-heart surgery. My fiancé, Curtis, then 31, and I had been ecstatic when, in September 2020, we’d found out we were expecting our first child. But during my 20-week scan in February 2021, something felt off. The scan lasted more than an hour, which seemed longer than the others I’d had. Although things looked okay on screen, my sonographer told me to go over the results with my doctor. My first pregnancy, I’d assumed everything was normal. But at the doctor’s office the…

LIME AND COCONUT DELICIOUS PUDDING SERVES 4-6PREP & COOK 1 HOUR 60g butter, softened 1 cup caster sugar 3 eggs, separated 1 tbsp finely grated lime rind, plus extra to decorate ⅓ cup lime juice ⅓ cup plain flour ⅓ cup desiccated coconut 1¼ cups milk Icing sugar mixture, whipped cream, to serve 1 Lightly grease an ovenproof dish (7-cup capacity, about 6cm deep). 2 Beat butter, sugar, egg yolks and lime rind in a large bowl with hand-held electric mixer until light and creamy. Add juice, flour, coconut and milk. Beat on low speed, stopping to scrape down the side of bowl as necessary, to form a smooth, thin batter. 3 Wash beaters. Beat egg whites in a medium bowl with mixer until soft peaks form. Gently fold egg…

After surviving breast cancer, Twila was inspired to spread awareness through singing Twila Whittingham, 71, Jervis Bay, NSW You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one,’ I softly sang to myself, soothed by John Lennon’s song ‘Imagine’ while making a cuppa. It was May 2022, and after noticing a strange white discharge from my right breast, I’d turned to music – something I did whenever I needed a lift to stay positive. ‘Could it be breastmilk?’ I wondered. But aged 68, I knew my childbearing days were long gone. I’d had a mammogram a year before, in February 2021, and my results had come back clear. Heartbreakingly, I’d lost my beautiful mum, Ellen, aged 73, in 2005 to cervical cancer, my hubby Graham, at 69, to…

When I was in primary school, my mum, Pat, and her two besties, Jenny and Jan, started their own little chocolate business. In their kitchens they spent hours creating beautiful boxes, bars and bags of homemade chocolates to sell at the local markets. They knocked on a few doors and soon they were also supplying two RSL clubs with after dinner mints, and the local school with delicious carob creations. Back then, people advertised their businesses with flyers on community noticeboards, letterbox drops, or taking out an ad in the local paper. Almost 40 years later, more people than ever have side hustles to help supplement their income or pension, but these days having an online presence and mastering the art of social media is essential to a small business’…

Little Casey defied the odds to be here Tamika Roberts, 33, Brisbane, Qld Popping a blue balloon to announce our pregnancy, my husband Chris, then 32, and I embraced, surrounded by our family and friends. A boy! I smiled to myself. It was May 2024, and I was 20 weeks pregnant. Our daughter Charlee, then two, was so excited about being a big sister. Constantly rubbing my belly and talking to ‘her baby’, she even helped pick our bub’s name from our list – Casey. My pregnancy hadn’t been smooth sailing. When I fell pregnant in January, I was over the moon to discover I was expecting twins. But sadly we lost one twin early on, and I was heartbroken. Thankfully our remaining baby looked healthy. But at 28 weeks,…