Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 26, 2025 i that's life!

Here in the tl! office, we’re all finding it hard to believe it’s already halfway through the year. In fact, it feels like we blinked in January and now we’re in June. But it’s a good time to look at whether or not our new year’s resolutions are on track, or have even got off the ground. It’s also time to think about what we want to do in the rest of 2025, given the clock is ticking! If you’re a believer in all things astrological, you might find some insights in our Mid-Year Stars (page 52). Our psychic astrologer Kris Fontaine reveals what the stars and planets have in store for us over the next six months. With most of our team born under Aries, one line in particular…

Emma believed her blooming belly was a baby, but the cause was much more sinister Emma Colledge, 26 YOUR real-life stories Clutching my stomach, I winced as my boyfriend, Jake, then 21, handed me a hot water bottle. It was December 2021 and, as usual at this time of every month, I was struggling with awful period pain. Nine years earlier when I was 14, I’d been diagnosed with recurring ovarian cysts. Doctors had said that, while the cysts weren’t dangerous, they’d continue to reappear and cause discomfort each month. They weren’t wrong! Thankfully, Jake and his mum, Christine, then 56, always looked after me. I was living with them while Jake and I saved for our own place. By February 2022, I’d noticed that my work trousers felt tight.…

GRADUATING GRAN At 88, Joan Alexander has proved it’s never too late to follow your dreams. The grandmother has finally received her Bachelor of Science in Education degree – more than six decades after first enrolling at university in the 1950s. Joan, who had completed all her course work, was forced to abandon the practical student teaching part of the course when she became pregnant. Instead of fulfilling her dream of stepping into the classroom as a teacher, she dedicated herself to raising four children with her husband Jim, a member of the coastguard. Joan volunteered in the community too, and in the 1980s she worked as a preschool aide. When Joan’s daughter Tracy reached out to the University of Maine, they recognised that this time working with youngsters was…

STRAWBERRY CHOCOLATE TARTS MAKES 12 PREP & COOK 30 MINS 275g packet frozen sweet tart cases (12) ½ cup thickened cream 200g block dark cooking chocolate, finely chopped 250g punnet strawberries, hulled, halved ½ tsp gelatine powder 2 tbsp strawberry jam 1 Place the frozen tart cases on an oven tray. Cook according to packet directions. Remove and cool. 2 Heat cream in a small saucepan over a medium heat until hot (do not boil). Remove from heat. Add chocolate. Stir until melted and smooth. Transfer to a heatproof jug. 3 Pour evenly into tart cases. Refrigerate for about 1 hour, or until chocolate is set. 4 Arrange strawberry halves over chocolate filling. 5 Sprinkle gelatine over 2 tsp water in a small heatproof jug. Sit jug in a small…

Breathe out as the planet Jupiter makes itself at home in Cancer during the second half of 2025. It’ll motivate us to take care of ourselves, our family and close connections and to hone our intuition. Jupiter in Cancer wants us to use our powers for actions related to property purchases, our offspring or mother figures. Romantic relationships and intimacy take on an easier, more relaxed form. Jupiter, the learning machine, also urges us to up the ante on home study, or hospitality or midwifery training. It’s all about creating more security and stability in our lives. We’re also encouraged to look at our roots and family values. But, be warned! Avoid letting Jupiter’s couch-potato staycation in Cancer keep you glued to home-base. Put good eating and workout routines on…

SEND US YOUR CLEVER IDEAS To make an inexpensive icepack, put a sponge soaked in water in a ziplock bag and freeze it. Chris Harper, Adelaide, SA Loop your bag’s zipper pulls through a paperclip to secure closed while travelling. Tina Granger, Brisbane, Qld Save your large clean ice-cream containers and use them to freeze leftover soup or other meals. Katrina Moyder, East Melbourne, Vic Try keeping a notebook to track your food waste – you’ll better understand your habits so you can shop more wisely. Marisa Glover, Geelong, Vic I always make my bed before I leave the bedroom in the morning – it helps wake me up and means one job is done. Angie Black, Parramatta, NSW Stew apples with butter instead of water for a creamier taste.…

According to ancient Indian tradition, we have seven chakras – energy centres that influence our physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. When they are balanced, we feel energised and vibrant. But if you ever feel drained, unmotivated, or disconnected, your chakras may be out of sync! Here’s a look at each chakra, what it represents and how to recharge it. Root chakra LOCATION Base of the spine COLOUR Red This chakra regulates stability, security and survival. When it’s out of balance, you may feel anxious, insecure or disconnected from your basic needs. BALANCING: Practise grounding activities like walking barefoot on grass, yoga poses such as Mountain Pose, or meditating with red gemstones like garnet or red jasper. Eating root vegies like carrots and potatoes can help. Sacral chakra LOCATION Just below…

Your pets Your family Your friends Your world WE PAY FOR EACH PHOTO USED My cheeky donkey Donk enjoying some willow! Sophie Clarke, Tailem Bend, SA I ♥ THAT’S LIFE! Me with my trusty magazine in Japan recently! Judy Ridley, Warren, NSW WINNERS ARE GRINNERS Thank you for the prize I won, that’s life! Myrna Smith, Wodonga, Vic $50 CASH WHAT’S ODD? PUZZLE HOW TO WIN... This scene is from the film Mary Poppins Returns. We’ve tinkered with the image and added something that doesn’t appear in the original scene (9). Write the name of the object that doesn’t belong on the entry coupon and you could be a winner. Turn to entry coupon (p50) to enter! Lexi and Ruby at sunset! Nichole Farleigh, Springfield, Qld Leo, five, loves exploring…

Jamie-Lee knew her father was different. But she had no idea how deep his darkness ran Jamie-Lee Arrow, 23 Staring up at the paintings of devils and demons lining the walls of our dark flat, I shuddered. Aged just six, I found the posters showing Freddy Kruger’s shiny long talons from the film Nightmare on Elm Street terrifying. Visiting my dad, Isakin, then 28, was like walking into a real-life horror movie. Instead of normal dolls, Dad gave me strange voodoo dolls covered in pins, and he’d insist on watching scary movies with me that were far too violent for my young eyes. While Dad could sometimes be fun, he oscillated between being charming and going into dark rages where his eyes blackened. If I ever fell over or scraped…

When cancer stole her limb, Eldiara gave it a unique send off Eldiara Doucette, 23 Adjusting the black veil over my eyes, I entered the funeral parlour with my boyfriend, Christopher, 22. My friends Izzy, 22, and Sascha, 23, my sister Allison, 19, and Christopher’s mum waited outside, giving us a private moment to say our goodbyes. ‘I’m sorry this happened to us, but you served me well,’ I cried. Lying on the table was my right arm. I’d had it amputated to save my life after battling cancer for three years. The funeral started as a joke so I didn’t think I’d get emotional, but now I couldn’t stop my feelings from surfacing. As my friends and loved ones trickled in to support me, I was overwhelmed with love.…

CRUMBED MUSTARD AND PARMESAN TOMATOES SERVES 6 PREP & COOK 40 MINS 8 large Roma tomatoes (900g), halved lengthways 1 tblsp olive oil CRUMB TOPPING 1¼ cups fresh breadcrumbs ¾ cup finely grated parmesan ¼ cup chopped fresh chives 1 tblsp fresh thyme leaves, plus sprigs to garnish ¼ cup olive oil 2 cloves garlic, crushed  2 tblsps Dijon mustard 1 Arrange the tomatoes, cut-side up, in an oiled, large roasting pan.  2 CRUMB TOPPING Combine breadcrumbs, parmesan and herbs in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Whisk oil with garlic and mustard in a jug. Add to breadcrumb mixture. Mix well.  3 Divide crumb topping evenly over tomatoes. Drizzle with oil.  4 Cook in a 180°C preheated oven for about 25 mins, or until tops are golden…

Mum-of-two Justin Hurd, then 21, kissed her kids, Kristian, two, and *Lila, 11 months, goodbye as she headed out the door. The siblings were the apple of Justin’s eye. She loved her two babies more than anything in the world. It was September 2022 and Justin had asked her best friend Makallie, then 23, to babysit her kids for a week while she went away for work. She’d looked after the kids several times before and Justin trusted her babies were in safe hands. The pair were so close, in fact, that Justin referred to her bestie as the kids’ aunt, and the children lovingly called her ‘TiTi’. Still, Justin knew that two young kids could be a handful, so she suggested to Makallie that she could drop her kids…

Trevor was working on his farm when a freak accident tore open his stomach Trevor Dalitz, 53, Chain of Ponds, SA As the first light beamed through my bedroom window, my dog,Bella, pawed at me. ‘Good morning, darling,’ I smiled. It was December 2023 and living alone on a nine-acre farm, I was up bright and early each morning tending to my sheep, goats and chickens. I spent my days hand-rearing livestock and tending to my bountiful vegie gardens. After downing a coffee, I pulled on my hat and boots and made my way out the door. Bella jumped in the passenger seat of my ute, and we drove out to start the feeds. Pulling up to the sheep sheds moments later, the hungry flock crowded around me as I…

Trending print! Cosy UP Weekend lounging and knitwear is a duo made in heaven. Add a statement sweater to matching toned lounge pants for a look you can take from the couch to the cafe without compromising on warmth and comfort! Steal! DINNER date Stay cosy and layer up with different textures for your after-dark plans. Wear a lightweight jumper with jeans, a faux fur jacket and pistol boots – perfect for dinner dates or post-work drinks. Need to dress it up? Add a belt for shape and oversized earrings for a touch of glam. Best seller! Brunch STOP A jeans and sweater vibe is a go-to for anything – from work to weekend errands or a causal lunch. Change it up this season with a pair of barrel-style jeans…

A few simple swaps have saved Jason’s family a motza Jason Ch’ng, 41, Fraser Rise, Vic Listening to the news about the latest rise in interest rates, I let out a troubled sigh. ‘Do you realise we’re having to pay $500 more a month on our mortgage repayments now?’ I said to my wife, Kim, then 38. It was 2022 and, on top of raising our kids, Felicia, then 10, and Xavier, six, Kim and I both had busy careers. She worked in finance, while I was an associate director for an accounting firm. It meant we never really had time to sit down and budget properly. Because of this, we didn’t keep track of how much we were spending on groceries, eating out and family activities. But now, with…

SPICY CANTONESE CHICKEN SERVES 4 PREP & COOK 25 MINS 1 barbecued chicken 450g packet microwave long grain white rice 120g sachet Ready Sauce for Cantonese Chicken ½ tsp dried chilli flakes 1 cup frozen peas 1 cup grated carrot 2 eggs, lightly beaten 1 bunch baby pak choy, trimmed, thinly sliced crossways 2 green onions, thinly sliced, plus extra to garnish 1 tbsp soy sauce 1 Remove and discard skin and bones from chicken. Coarsely shred meat. 2 Heat rice according to packet directions. 3 Meanwhile, place chicken, Ready Sauce and chilli flakes in a large bowl. Mix well. 4 Heat an oiled, large non-stick wok over a high heat. Add chicken mixture in two batches. Stir-fry for about 3 mins, or until browned and hot. Remove from wok.…

CARAMELISED PINEAPPLE UPSIDE-DOWN PAVLOVA SERVES 6 PREP & COOK 1 HOUR 30 MINS 825g can pineapple slices in juice 25g butter, chopped 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar  270ml can coconut cream  1 tsp vanilla bean paste  1 tbsp lemon juice  Softly whipped cream, to serve  PAVLOVA  5 egg whites, at room temp 1¼ cups caster sugar 1 Drain pineapple, reserving juice for another use. Pat pineapple slices dry with absorbent kitchen paper. Cut each slice into quarters.  2 Combine butter, sugar, coconut cream and vanilla in a large, non-stick frying pan over a medium-high heat. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Bring to a boil. Gently boil, stirring occasionally, for about 4-5mins, or until slightly thickened.  3 Add pineapple and lemon juice to pan. Gently stir to coat pineapple. Transfer…

W ith my very first full-time pay cheque I bought my mum a new bed to replace her 20-yearold ensemble. I also bought myself a car and then enjoyed taking holidays. Compulsory employer superannuation contributions were still fairly new back then, and I didn’t think very much about it, or about the money I was spending. After all, retirement was a lifetime away and there was a lot of living to do before then. But I should have thought about it. Now approaching 50, I’m acutely aware that, having taken time out of full-time work while raising my son and caring for my mum, my super balance isn’t where it should be. Here are a few things we can do to boost our balance to secure a rosier retirement. ASSESS…

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