Indholdsfortegnelse for Issue 33, 2025 i that's life!

Weddings can feel magical, but there’s often a mishap or fraught moment behind the scenes of the ‘perfect’ day. For one couple though, featured in Trending this week (page 14), the trouble was pretty clear to every guest – the church was flooded thanks to a typhoon! Loved-up Jade and Jamaica carried on regardless, and waded down the aisle to say I do. It got the tl! team talking about wedding disasters we’ve encountered. For Lisa, the show had to go on despite being struck down by terrible food poisoning. ‘It was my best friend’s wedding and I’d flown to Canada to be chief bridesmaid,’ she told us. ‘I had to keep nipping off to be sick all day...Thank God I had professional make-up on or I’d have looked so…

A pothole changed Liam’s life forever, but he was saved by kind strangers Liam Edwards, 25, Shepparton, Vic Buckling my seatbelt, I pulled out of the driveway ready to make the 45-minute trip home after my shift at a pizza shop. It was October 2019, the day before my 20th birthday, and I was looking forward to celebrating with friends at the pub the following night. The sun was still shining brightly at around 4.30pm when I pulled out onto Shepparton–Violet Town Road. As my car had been broken into the night before and the passenger side window smashed, I was grateful that my boss had let me borrow the Nissan Pulsar we used to deliver pizzas until I could get my Subaru fixed. So I was paying extra close…

COCONUT JAM DROPS MAKES ABOUT 24 BISCUITS 125g unsalted butter, softened 55g caster sugar 1 tsp vanilla bean paste 110 g plain flour 40g cornflour ½ tsp baking powder 40g desiccated coconut ⅛ tsp fine sea salt 160g good-quality store-bought jam 1 In the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, cream the butter, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy. 2 Place flour, cornflour, baking powder, coconut and salt in a separate bowl and use a hand whisk to combine. Add to butter mixture and stir gently until a soft dough forms. 3 Let the dough rest in bowl somewhere cool for 30 mins. Preheat oven to 160°C fan-forced and line two baking trays with baking paper. 4 Use your hands to roll dough into balls (about…

Sheridan’s little girl Phoebe loves her unique do Sheridan Doyle, 33, Logan, Qld Picking up the hairbrush, I sighed. ‘Come on Phoebe. Sit still for two minutes. I promise to be gentle,’ I pleaded with my five-year-old daughter. ‘I’ll buy you a treat at the shops.’ ‘No way, Mum,’ she declared, skipping away as her wiry blonde hair pointed at all angles like a bird’s nest. My partner Mitchell, 35, and I first noticed Phoebe’s hair was different when she was eight months old. Instead of lying flat on her head like most babies, our girl’s strands stuck straight up in the air. I was puzzled. Her hair looked nothing like my long brown locks which her big sister, Zoe, then six, had inherited. And neither had she been born…

3 People can survive up to this many weeks without food, but only about three days without water. Perk up If you reach for the coffee first thing in the morning, you’re doing it all wrong. According to research, the best time to drink coffee is actually mid to late morning – between 9.30am to 11.30am. This aligns with your body’s natural rhythms, meaning you get the full benefits of your caffeine hit. Between 6am and 9am – the period when most people wake up – your body naturally produces cortisol, meaning you’re already alert. This cortisol starts to dip at around 9.30am, making this the perfect time for a pick-me-up. Did you know? If you’re suffering from a head cold, spicy food can provide temporary relief. Eating something hot…

Clog REVIVAL Clogs are back (again!) and they’re not only comfy, they’re also surprisingly chic. From sculptural platforms to sleek, flat silhouettes in all sort of textures, this nostalgic shoe is less ‘gardener on a break’ and more ‘Scandi street style icon’ these days. Style with wide-leg pants or floaty skirts for an effortless, stylish edge. Flat STRAPPED Ballet flats are here to stay, but they’ve had a bit of an upgrade. These hybrid Mary-Jane slippers are perfect for anyone who’s looking for comfort without sacrificing polish. Pair with crisp tailoring for that ‘quiet luxury’ vibe, or with jeans for an elevated casual fit. Colourful KICKS Step aside, minimalist sneakers – dopamine-drenched kicks are having their moment. From pastel panels to bold brights, sporty staples have become fashion flexes. Wear…

Birth month flowers offer a floral representation of your personality and life’s journey. Each month has its own bloom – or two! Read on to find out your flower and what it means. JANUARY Larkspur & water lily Larkspur signifies an open heart and strong bonds, and the water lily symbolises purity and enlightenment. These flowers reflect the warmth and generosity of those born in the first month of the year, at the height of summer. FEBRUARY Gladiolus & poppy As late summer flourishes, the gladiolus stands for integrity and infatuation, while the poppy represents remembrance and imagination. These bold blooms mirror the determined and creative February folk. MARCH Aster & morning glory With the arrival of autumn, asters symbolise wisdom, love, and faith, while the morning glory flowers represent…

WE PAY FOR EACH PHOTO USED My nan, Christine, from Dubbo, NSW, loves your puzzles and was ecstatic to win a prize. Jordan Smail – by email WINNERS ARE GRINNERS ME AND MY PET Cuddles is waiting patiently for mum to give him his bath. Janelle Pearce, North Lakes, Qld My lovely King Charles cavalier spaniel Millie in her new bed soaking up the sun on a winter’s day. Amy Chatterton, Carramar, WA $50 CASH HOW TO WIN... This image has been taken from the film The Help. We have tinkered with the image and added something that doesn’t appear in the original scene (4). Write which object doesn’t belong only on the entry coupon and you could be a winner. Turn to entry coupon (p50) to enter! WHAT’S ODD?…

Lisa was devastated when her beloved father was betrayed by his own wife Lisa Hinrichsen, 34, Adelaide, SA Happy Birthday, Dad,’ I beamed, wrapping him in a cuddle. It was November 2018, and my partner, John, then 25, and I were visiting my dad, Steven for his 63rd birthday. ‘When is my grandson due?’ he asked excitedly. Placing his hands on my belly, Dad softly sang the lyrics to his favourite Beatles song, ‘I want to hold your hand’. My bub must have been able to hear him, as he began kicking like crazy. I was eight months along with my third child, and Dad was counting down the days until my boy was in his arms. When I was growing up, Dad had all the time in the world…

Tess had no idea something sinister had latched onto her while on a family holiday Tess Swift, 30, Ocean Grove, Vic Surprise!’ my mum Virginia, then 49, beamed. It was August 2015 and she’d organised a trip to Thailand for herself, me, and my sister Ally, 22. Aged 20, I’d just completed my nursing placement as part of my uni degree, so it was a lovely gift after a gruelling four weeks working in the hospital. ‘Thank you,’ I hugged Mum tightly. My dad, Jeremy, 50, stayed home for work. After landing in Phuket three weeks later, we made our way to our resort in Kata Beach. For the next two weeks, we soaked up the sun, swam and snorkelled, gorged on yummy food, and even visited an elephant sanctuary.…

BEEF PAD SEE EW SERVES 4 PREP & COOK 20 MINS 200g packet thick pad thai noodles 500g beef stir-fry strips ¼ cup vegetable oil 1 tbsp oyster sauce 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1 bunch gai lan (250g), trimmed, chopped 2 eggs, lightly beaten ½ cup fresh Thai basil leaves SPICY SAUCE 2 tbsp soy sauce 1 tbsp sambal oelek 1 tbsp brown sugar 1 Place noodles in a heatproof bowl. Cover with boiling water. Stand for 1 min. Drain. Rinse under cold water. Drain. 2 Toss beef strips with 1 tbsp oil, oyster sauce and garlic in a large bowl. 3 SPICY SAUCE Combine all ingredients in a small jug and mix well. 4 Heat a large, non-stick wok over a high heat. Add beef in two batches. Stir-fry…

Inspired by the resilience of Aussie nurses held captive during the Second World War, Rod wrote a book about their ordeal Rod Miller, 66, Sydney, NSW Flicking through the yellowing pages of a tattered notebook entitled GK’s Nonsense, I was intrigued. The diary was filled with hundreds of musings, but the first one in particular, titled Evacuation of Rabaul, caught my attention. An auctioneer, I was clearing the flat of Grace Kruger who’d been a nurse during the Second World War. I’d been appointed to clear items from her estate as Grace was going into a care home. Sure the diary was important, I placed it in a box in my garage. Years later I came across it again. Studying the entries, I discovered that from January 1942 until September…

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…

When his beloved dog Lucas was sick, Luiz did everything he possibly could Luiz Hoinkis, 41 Scooping up the tiny ball of white and black fur into my arms, I fell instantly in love. ‘You were right about getting a puppy,’ I said to my husband, Justin, as I swooned over our six-week-old Boston terrier. Naming him Lucas, I felt an instant, incredible bond, and in the months that followed we were never apart. From the start Lucas had an almost magical ability to read my moods. If I was sad or anxious, he’d be there to comfort me. It was impossible to wallow or worry when he was with me. He truly became my ‘souldog’. So when I fell ill with hepatitis in May 2018, a few months after…

Prosecutors argued that with Dad dead, Tanya planned on moving in with her lover. Horrifyingly, Tanya had contacted Dad’s life insurance company on a few occasions. Prosecutors argued that Dad’s murder was ‘wanted, agreed and planned’ because my sweet dad had been in the way of Tanya’s love affair with Skinner. In July 2021, Tanya Hinrichsen, then 43, and Gavin Scott Skinner, 46, were found guilty of murder, while Robert John Thrupp, 47, was found guilty of manslaughter. The following February, Tanya and Skinner were sentenced to life, with non-parole periods of 22 and 24 years respectively. Thrupp received nine years with a non-parole period of seven. Justice Sophie David said, ‘You were his wife and you were his carer. You knew that he loved and trusted you. ‘He was…

CREAMY SATAY CHICKEN SERVES 6 PREP & COOK 4 HOURS 20 MINS 1.5kg chicken thigh fillets, trimmed, halved 2 red onions, halved, thinly sliced 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1 tbsp finely grated fresh ginger ¼ cup yellow curry paste ½ cup peanut butter (crunchy or smooth) 2 tbsp soy sauce 2 tbsp brown sugar 400ml can light coconut milk 2 red capsicums, thickly sliced 1 tbsp lime juice, plus wedges to serve ½ cup chopped fresh coriander, plus extra sprigs to serve Steamed rice and chopped roasted peanuts, to serve 1 Place chicken, onions, garlic, ginger, curry paste, peanut butter, soy sauce and sugar in a removable bowl of a 5 to 6-litre slow cooker. Stir to coat chicken, then stir in coconut milk. Cover with lid. 2 Cook on…

VANILLA CREAMED RICE WITH HONEY CINNAMON SYRUP SERVES 6 PREP & COOK 1 HOUR 30 MINS 3½ cups milk 300ml carton pure cream ½ cup caster sugar 2 tsp vanilla bean paste ¾ cup medium grain rice 250g punnet strawberries, hulled, sliced  Toasted chopped pistachios, to decorate HONEY CINNAMON SYRUP ⅓ cup honey 1 cinnamon stick 1 Grease a large, round, ovenproof dish (12-cup capacity) and place on a large oven tray.  2 Add milk, cream, sugar and vanilla to prepared dish and stir in rice to combine.  3 Cook in a 180°C preheated oven, stirring every 15 mins, for about 1 hour and 15mins, or until rice is tender. Remove dish from oven. Do not stir rice. Stand for 20 mins prior to serving.  4 HONEY CINNAMON SYRUP Meanwhile, combine…

Reducing the cost of the weekly grocery bill has become a bit of an obsession of mine. Each week I challenge myself to try and save as much as I can when I shop. Sometimes my choices haven’t been quite so popular in my household, such as when I ‘snagged’ 5kg of lean sausages for $10. The first night we had sausages on the barbecue. The next night I made curried sausages, and the following evening I cut them into small pieces like mini meatballs and served them with spaghetti. But by the fourth night my family were calling for a ban on the bangers! Here are a few of the more palatable ways I’ve been saving on my shopping. BEYOND BEST Research from ING has found that you can…

Claudia had just returned from a dream trip when she started feeling sick Claudia Gill, 21, Newcastle, NSW Dumping my bags on the floor, I gave my parents, Sam, then 48, and Katrina, 52, a big hug. ‘Did you have a good trip, darl’?’ asked Mum. ‘It was amazing!’ I said grinning. It was May 2022, and I’d just returned from a two-month road trip with my mate, Eliana. Both 18, we’d driven from Wollongong, NSW, up the east coast to Cairns, stopping off at stunning beaches along the way. Five days after returning, I was back at work in my retail job when I started experiencing a painful headache. I also found the music too loud as it blared over the speakers, and felt the store lights were too…