Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 46, 2025 i that's life!

Letter from the Ed Getting changed after a gym class the other day, I was in my own world in the changing room. That’s when I heard a woman washing her hands at the sink say something. ‘Oh, I do that too,’ she said, ‘when I’m baking.’ At first I thought she might be on the phone to someone, and have earphones in that I couldn’t see, but she was looking at me expectantly. I’d had no idea I was humming! ‘Sorry?’ I said, confused. ‘What do you do when you’re baking?’ I was changing my T-shirt... was she maybe a messy baker who needed a change mid-recipe? ‘Hum,’ she replied. ‘Like you were just now,’ and then she hummed a little made-up ditty. Truth was, I’d had no idea…

Sprinkling cheese on top of the lasagne, my daughter Emma-Jane, 11, smiled. ‘Thank you, baby,’ I said, sliding the tray into the oven. It was January this year and my kids, Kayla, 19, Raiden, 17, Saige, 15, Emma-Jane and Chevy-King, seven, had just had their first day back at school. Thick as thieves, the kids would spend hours in the kitchen baking cakes or making dumplings for me and their dad, George, 41. We’d split six years ago but remained close friends. Today, Kayla and Emma-Jane were helping me with dinner. While I was washing dishes around 5.20pm, Emma-Jane asked if she and Saige could go to the shops. They’d saved their pocket money for a treat. ‘As long as you’re back in time for dinner,’ I nodded. The corner…

I SWEAR TO BE A GOOD DOGGY Queensland courts have a furry new recruit. Brisbane Registry of the Federal Circuit and Family Court welcomed Court Dog Leo in October. The two-year-old yellow lab and his handler were trained by Guide Dogs Australia. At a ceremony, Leo ‘signed’ his oath with his paw print to become part of the National Court Dog Program. Leo – like the five other court dogs in other states – will help people attending court feel less stressed and more relaxed. Queensland Law Society president Genevieve Dee said, ‘Leo will provide much needed comfort and support to our most vulnerable court users. ‘ Leo and the other court dogs – all labradors – have been trained to sit calmly in the gallery or witness box at…

AMERICANA SALAD SERVES 6 PREP 30 MINS 1 small red onion, thinly sliced into rings ⅓ cup red wine vinegar 1 tbsp caster sugar 1 baby cos, trimmed, torn 3 cups shredded red cabbage (250g) 2 carrots, coarsely shredded 200g punnet medley tomatoes, halved ½ cup pimento stuffed olives, halved crossways ½ x 230g bag white corn tortilla strips, broken into pieces 2 avocados, chopped DRESSING ½ cup olive oil 1 cup fresh coriander leaves 1 Combine onion, vinegar and sugar in a bowl. Cover. Stand for 10 mins. Strain onions over a jug, reserving liquid. 2 DRESSING Combine the oil and coriander in a blender. Add reserved the onion liquid. Blend until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. 3 Combine the lettuce, cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, olives, tortilla strips and…

UP TO 60% OFF Express shipping available! Victoria Bitter Bar and Grill Wall Clock Limited edition fully-sculpted clock features an accurate-scaled sports bar and grill with sound and movement. Was $249.96 Now $199 Thomas Kinkade Animated Holiday Music Box First-ever Thomas Kinkade limited-edition crystal music box opens to animated 3D village scenes. Skaters circle the pond as holiday music plays. Was $229.96 Now $99 Lest We Forget Illuminated Lantern Clock A unique tribute to our heroes, this illuminated bronze-tone lantern clock with golden poppy accents honours ANZAC bravery with stirring imagery, John McCrae’s verses, and a precision Quartz movement. Was $149.97 Now $119 ‘Queen Elizabeth II Coronation’ Musical Glitter Globe Limited edition! Glitter swirls around a hand-painted sculpture of the Queen on Coronation Day, all inside a glass globe. With…

WE PAY FOR EACH PHOTO USED Me with my that’s life! in McKinlay, Qld, famous for being in Crocodile Dundee. Carol Kilby, Moranbah, Qld ME AND MY PET Spending time at Lakes Entrance, Vic, with Gizmo, Rusty, Chile, Millie and Timmy. Sue Brown, Cranbourne, Vic Ava and Cassie enjoyed Cassie’s second birthday despite the rain! Shelley Dunham, Camillo, WA $50 CASH WHAT’S ODD? PUZZLE HOW TO WIN... This image his from the film One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. We have tinkered with the image and added something that doesn’t appear in the original scene (3-5). 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 grand-kitty Mia decided this beanbag was not mine, but in…

In July, I was joined by my whole family at the High Court in Napier for the sentencing. Proudly wearing a shirt with Emma-Jane’s face, I stared directly at Pineaha as I read aloud my victim impact statement. ‘You didn’t just kill our baby. You took a sister, cousin, niece, friend and moko [young child] away that was loved endlessly by so many,’ I read, tearfully. ‘Our daughter was a beautiful, spiritual, headstrong child. She was quiet at times, loved her animé movies and cooking – a beautiful child who should have lived her adult years and got to grow old with her siblings, to one day have her own whanau [family], accomplish all of her dreams and live her best life. But you took that away from her.’ Unable…

AUSSIE REAL LIFE Gathering around the birthday cake, I watched my son Nathan splutter a big raspberry over his candle to blow it out. It was Nathan’s first birthday and my husband, Victor, then 39, and I were revelling in parenthood. I often found myself staring at Nathan lovingly – our boy was as cute as a button. A week later in October 1995, then 32, I woke up covered in a rash. Living with lupus – an autoimmune disease – I had an appointment that day for a routine check-up and pointed out the outbreak. ‘I think you should go to hospital,’ my GP insisted. Victor looked after Nathan while I took myself off to hospital. As I waited to be seen, angry blisters the size of 50 cent…

STUFFED MUSSELS SERVES 4 2 garlic cloves, finely minced 2 onions, finely diced 2 handfuls of fresh parsley, finely chopped Olive oil, for frying 2 × 400g tins diced tomatoes 2kg mussels Salt and freshly ground black pepper STUFFING 6 thick slices of bread, crusts removed 200ml full-cream (whole) milk 300g mortadella, diced 260g grated parmesan cheese 4 eggs, lightly beaten 2 handfuls of dried breadcrumbs (if needed) 1 In a small bowl, mix together garlic, onion and parsley. 2 Add one-third of parsley mix to a frying pan with about 5mm oil in the base. Add tomatoes, ¼ tin of water and salt and pepper to taste. Simmer over low heat for 10 mins while you make the stuffing. 3 STUFFING Place bread in a bowl and add milk…

Rebekah Campbell, 32, had big dreams. Passionate about hairdressing, she dreamed of one day owning her own salon. But more than anything, Rebekah wanted to be a mum. She’d hoped to find Mr Right who she could settle down with, but she’d been unlucky in love. In December 2024, her relationship with Joseph Cummins, 30, ended when he turned violent. The pair had got into a row over money on Boxing Day, and Joseph, a mixed martial arts fighter, exploded, pulling her hair out and pushing her down the stairs. Terrified for her life, Rebekah played dead, but the blows kept coming as Joseph kicked her while she was on the ground. Thankfully, Rebekah managed to flee, flagging down an elderly neighbour who contacted police. As Rebekah healed, her friends…

TOP DOG Vet Kristina Welsh was working at an animal shelter when a chocolate labrador puppy was brought in by a good Samaritan. The six-week-old pooch had been found running around the highway, and Kristina fell instantly in love. Adopting the pup, who she named Koa, Kristina taught her four-legged friend how to play fetch. But she never anticipated her new pal would also have a knack for surfing – something Kristina discovered by chance. Kristina had taken her niece, who wasn’t overly fond of swimming, to the beach. By the end of the day, both her niece and Koa were riding around on the surfboard together. Recognising Koa’s love for the sport, Kristina signed up her pooch at a local surf dog group. But sadly tragedy struck in 2021…

DIABETES explained Understanding this chronic condition Around 1.9 million Aussies and 300,000 Kiwis live with the health condition diabetes. WHAT IS DIABETES? Diabetes affects how the body processes glucose – the main type of sugar found in our blood. When functioning normally, our body breaks food down into glucose, which enters our bloodstream. Our pancreas then releases insulin, a hormone which moves glucose into our cells, where it’s used for energy. This process doesn’t work properly in people with diabetes. WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TYPE 1 AND TYPE 2? Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition where sufferers don’t produce insulin, or very little. In type 2, the body becomes resistant to insulin or doesn’t use it effectively. Both can cause glucose to build up in the bloodstream, potentially leading…

STYLE FILE! Tuck into paperbag-waist shorts Wear open over a simple dress HAIR HELPERS Strands need a bit of TLC after all that fun in the sun? Try on these bottled beauties to repair and care for your crowning glory. 1 $27.99 Growth Bomb Booster Serum Strength & Length growthbomb.com 2 $20 Hairification H24 Complex Leave-In Repair Hair Mask priceline.com.au 3 $18.99 each Kristin Ess Ultra Rich Softening Shampoo and Kristin Ess Ultra Lightweight Softening Conditioner chemistwarehouse.com.au 4 $50 TYPEBEA R1 Pre-Wash Damage Repair Mask au.typebea.com 5 $25.39 L’Oréal Professionnel Serie Expert Absolut Repair Oil chemistwarehouse.com.au…

Our features can reveal hidden truths about our personality. Dating back to ancient times, this art sees the face as a map of character and destiny. Every curve of the brow, every tilt of the lips, even the line of the jaw tells a story. Read on to find out what your facial features reveal about you! Eyes The eyes are usually the feature that attracts the most attention. Large, open eyes indicate sincerity, curiosity, and emotional warmth. Smaller, deeper-set eyes reflect keen perception and a capacity for intense focus. Eyes that shine brightly show a spirited, joyful energy, while heavier lids and shadowed gazes hint at deep introspection and wisdom. Cheeks Cheeks speak of social connection and inner vitality. Full, glowing cheeks suggest warmth, charisma, and a love of…

Confetti fluttering down around us, I smiled, holding my husband Robert’s hand. ‘Thank you for coming to celebrate our love,’ I said, taking in the beaming faces of our family. It was September this year, and our three children, Carol, 69, David, 66, and Wendy, 61, plus our eight grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren had all gathered in our backyard for cake. I’d made a similar speech 70 years ago when Robert and I married, and now on our milestone anniversary it was amazing to think our love had lasted so many decades. ‘She’s still as lovely as the day we wed,’ Robert, 91, chimed in with a cheeky wink my way. ‘Oh, you old charmer,’ I replied, giggling. Robert and I first met as teenagers. In 1951 when I was…

Smoothing the sealant on the roof, I admired my handiwork. Good as new, I smiled. It was September 2023 and, while my wife Eleni, then 29, was inside with our girls, Lylah, four, and Elouise, two, I was patching a roof leak. Just then, Eleni came to check on me. ‘Can you get down from there,’ she called out. ‘I don’t want to spend Father’s Day in the emergency room with you tomorrow!’ She was right. As an electrician, I knew the importance of wearing a safety harness when working on a roof, but that Saturday morning I’d been in such a rush, I’d forgotten to gear up. As I began to make my way back down, I spotted a patch of mould on our tin roof. I’ll give it…

CHICKEN PARMIGIANA SERVES 4 PREP & COOK 35 MINS 6 00g packet (4) crumbed chicken breast schnitzels 200g shaved leg ham ⅔ cup tomato, garlic and basil pasta sauce 150g medley cherry tomatoes, halved ⅔ cup shredded parmesan Fresh basil leaves, mixed salad, to serve 1 Cook schnitzels according to packet directions. Transfer hot schnitzels to an oven tray lined with baking paper. 2 Arrange ham evenly over schnitzels. Spoon over pasta sauce. Top with tomatoes. Sprinkle with cheese. 3 Cook in a 200°C oven for about 15 mins, or until cheese is melted and light golden. 4 Serve parmigiana with basil leaves and salad. Top tips Serve parmigiana with a salad kit of your choice, or steamed vegetables for a change. CHILLI BASIL BEEF NOODLES SERVES 4 PREP &…

6 weeks until Christmas WHITE CHOCOLATE AND BERRY CHEESECAKE TART SERVES 10 PREP 40 MINS 2 50g packet Butternut Snap Cookie biscuits 1 tsp ground cinnamon 75g butter, melted ⅓ cup blueberry fruit spread 2 x 125g punnet blackberries 2 x 125g punnet blueberries Fresh mint sprigs, to decorate FILLING 1 ½ x 180g blocks white cooking chocolate, chopped 2 x 250g packets cream cheese, chopped ⅓ cup icing sugar mixture ½ cup thickened cream 1 Invert the base of a 23cm round springform pan (base measures 22cm). Grease base and side of pan. 2 Process biscuits and cinnamon in a food processor until finely crushed. Add butter and process until combined. Press evenly over base and 3cm up the side of pan. Refrigerate. 3 FILLING Place the chocolate in…

GOOD TO KNOW For many people, their credit report is a bit of a mystery. It’s important you review your credit report every three months, not only to understand your financial position but also to check for any errors. A fantastic website to get you credit report savvy is creditsmart.org.au – It not only tells you how to access your credit report but also explains what your score means, what influences it, how to improve it and where to seek support if you’re struggling financially. Check it out! Social media posts from your friends sharing photos of their gourmet night out, long weekend by the beach or flashy bathroom renovations can give you a chronic case of FOMO – Fear Of Missing Out. It’s not that we’re not happy for…

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