Indholdsfortegnelse for Issue 42, 2025 i that's life!

Have you started any Christmas shopping yet?’ my hairdresser asked the other day while I had a trim. ‘Not yet,’ I admitted. She’d just bought some Pokémon cards and toys for her nephew. ‘He’s mad about it,’ she said. That’s when another customer chimed in. ‘Pokémon? So’s my son!’ she said. ‘Him and his mates are obsessed!’ Pokémon? I thought, recalling the Japanese cartoon game cards my younger brother collected and swapped in the playground in the ‘90s. Is that back? It’s funny how crazes come in cycles. My primary school went mad for marbles. A particularly smooth corner of the playground became the battleground. There was a whole tier-system, with pearlescent ‘pearlies’ and squiggle-filled ‘spaghetti junctions’ being the most coveted marbles. When I asked the team about their school…

A trip to pick up her great-grandson saw Carol fighting for her life Carol Stewart, 63, Wairoa, NZ Oh Carol, you’re early,’ I muttered, rolling my eyes at myself. I’d just arrived at my great-grandson’s school, but when I pulled up, the yard was still empty. School wouldn’t be out for another hour. It was a sunny winter’s afternoon in June this year and I always picked up my boy on my mobility scooter. He loved riding it home with me. Four years earlier, I’d been diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, which meant my sight had narrowed to tunnel vision. I had to give up driving, so the scooter had given me precious independence. After my husband Noel suddenly passed away nearly two years earlier, aged 72, from an abdominal aneurysm,…

LEAPING INTO LOVE Ammie Watts and Craig Fox didn’t stroll into married life – they abseiled! Moments after saying ‘I do’ the daredevil newlyweds leapt into love by abseiling down the side of the Brisbane Powerhouse building. The happy couple, who run a catering company and met at work, stunned their 84 guests with a daring 20m descent in full wedding attire. ‘Both of us are actually scared of heights – but that made it even more meaningful!’ Ammie told that’s life! ‘Standing on the rooftop in our wedding outfits, looking over the edge, was surreal. But stepping off and descending side by side felt symbolic – starting our marriage with trust, teamwork, and a little adrenaline.’ The reception was just as unique, with drinks served on life-sized ice waiter…

SPICY RAVIOLI ARRABBIATA SERVES 4 PREP & COOK 35 MINS 500g packet frozen spinach and ricotta ravioli ¼ cup pine nuts, toasted Shaved parmesan, to garnish ARRABBIATA SAUCE 1 tbsp olive oil 1 onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1 tsp dried chilli flakes ⅓ cup tomato paste 800g can diced tomatoes 2 tbsp chopped fresh basil leaves, plus extra to garnish 2 tsp caster sugar 1 SAUCE Heat oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat. Add onion and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until soft. Add chilli. Cook, stirring, for 1 min, until fragrant. Add tomato paste. Cook, stirring, for 2 mins. 2 Add ½ cup water, tomatoes, basil and sugar. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Simmer, covered, for 10 mins. Uncover. Simmer…

CONTENT WARNING Aria was on a night out with a friend when she was lured by a monster Aria Selene, 20 Cracking open a couple of ciders, my best friend and I clinked our bottles. ‘Cheers,’ we smiled. It was March 2023 and, both aged 18, Charlie and I were catching up at a local bar. Working long hours as bartenders, we loved to let our hair down when we had a night off. Around 3am, after gossiping about work and listening to music, we called it a night. I waited for Charlie to get his Uber outside the bar. ‘Message me when you’re back safe,’ he said, as he climbed into the car. ‘I will,’ I replied, waving him off. But in the back of another taxi, I looked…

POUT IT OUT Know what never goes out of style? A bold red lip. Whether you prefer a high-gloss pout, a vampy matte finish, or something in between, these five formulas will all have you in red (without going over budget). $22 MCoBeauty Lip Ink Longwear Hold in Iconic Red ozhairandbeauty.com 2 $14.95 Sportsgirl Lipstick in Real Red sportgsirl.com.au 3 $11.99 Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick in Pioneer 20 chemistwarehouse.com.au 4 $15.49 Revlon Colorstay Suede Ink Lip Boom chemistwarehouse.com.au 5 $40 Trinny London Lip Luxe in Swainy trinnylondon.com/au…

Your pets Your family Your friends Your world WE PAY FOR EACH PHOTO USED My 10-month-old kitten Niles looks very smart in his new jumper. Rachel Mcnamara, Kambah, ACT Me, Cathy, Mary and Mary – after 55 years of friendship we celebrated our 60th birthdays together. Ornella Meniconi, Rooty Hill, NSW $50 CASH WHAT’S ODD? PUZZLE HOW TO WIN... This image has been taken from the film Saturday Night Fever. We tinkered with the image and added something that doesn’t appear in the original scene (8). 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 granddaughter Luna had her sixth birthday party at the Malibu Barbie Cafe in Melbourne. Here, she’s with her cousin Noah,…

that's life! CRIME FILE When Terri Harris first met Damien Bendall in April 2020, his charming personality swept her off her feet. Five months after they met online, Damien, then 30, moved in with Terri and her kids, John-Paul, 12, and Lacey, 10. It seemed the pair were smitten. But Terri’s family soon became concerned when they noticed that Terri was quieter than usual, and that Damien was always with her. He’d also made comments to Terri’s mum, Angie, about hitting his friend’s dog over the head with a brick, when they were unable to afford to get vet treatment. Immediately, alarm bells rang for Angie and she became concerned for her daughter’s and grandchildren’s safety. Damien also had a violent past – something that Terri was completely unaware of.…

Lisa has her hands – and heart – full with her big brood Lisa Hosking, 41, Aberglasslyn, NSW Dinner’s ready guys,’ I cried, plating the last portions of spaghetti bolognese into a bowl for myself and my husband, Steven, 51. Seconds later the clatter of cutlery filled the air as my kids, Isaac, 21, Bailey, 18, Corey, 17, Tahlia, 16, Connor, 15, Layla, 12, Zane, 10, Levi, nine, Kobi, seven, Khai, six, Xander, five, Rylan, three, and two-year-old Lacey happily tucked into their dinner. Cooking for a family of 15 is no small task – two kilos of mince and two big bags of pasta – but seeing the kids grinning as they scoffed their spaghetti makes it all worth it. Growing up with my grandparents Ros and Don and…

SCOTCH FINGER CARAMEL SLICE MAKES 24 PREP & COOK 35 MINS BISCUIT BASE 250g pkt Arnott’s Scotch Finger biscuits (or 250g Arnott’s Gluten Free Scotch Finger biscuits) 100g butter, melted CARAMEL FILLING 395g can sweetened condensed milk 2 tbsp golden syrup 60g unsalted butter CHOCOLATE TOPPING 180g dark chocolate, melted 1 tsp vegetable oil 1 Grease and line an 18cm x 28cm slice tin, extending paper 2cm above edge of tin. 2 BISCUIT BASE Place Scotch Finger biscuits in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until fine crumbs form. Add melted butter and pulse until combined. Press mixture firmly into base of tin, smoothing the surface with a spoon or flat-based glass. Cover and refrigerate for 20 mins until firm. 3 CARAMEL FILLING Place condensed milk, golden syrup…

After being taken from her mum, Zara searched high and low to find her birth parents Zara Phillips, 60 Staring at my reflection in the mirror, I felt sad. I look nothing like Mum and Dad, my brow furrowed. While my mum Jean had fair skin and light hair, my features were much darker. I always knew my older brother and I were adopted from different families – but Jean and my adoptive dad Seymour struggled to talk about it, so I didn’t ask questions. But not having the answers left me with an awful sense of rejection. Why did my biological mum give me up? Was I ugly? Did she hate me? I’d wonder and weep. When I walked down the street, I’d scan the faces of all the…

Spare parts to soulmates When two strangers, Jessica and Daniel, separately learned their dads were facing kidney failure, they each decided to help. In a bid to save their fathers’ lives, Jessica and Daniel both signed up as living donors. They went on to donate their kidneys – Daniel in 2012, followed by Jessica in 2013. While it was a long road back to good health, thanks to their incredible gifts, both dads made a full recovery. At the time Jessica and Daniel lived in different cities, didn’t know each other and had no idea their stories would one day collide. That was until 2019, when Daniel made the move to Philadelphia, US, where he matched with Jessica on a dating app. Prompting her potential suitors to guess from two…

Ice plunges have been trending for a while now, but if the mere thought of submerging yourself in a bathtub filled with icy water causes you to shiver, a cold shower could be a good introduction. While the jury is still out on the extent of the health benefits associated with cold showers, early research seems promising. Here are ways they can be beneficial… BOOSTS MOOD AND ALERTNESS A blast of cold water triggers a quick increase in oxygen intake, heart rate and blood circulation. It also gives you a rush of endorphins (feel-good hormones), while activating your sympathetic nervous system, which gives you a rush of energy and reduces fatigue. It also helps you focus better and improves mental clarity. SUPPORTS IMMUNITY According to some research, regular cold showers…

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…

Mandy fought a terrifying presence in her home Mandy Deaves, 63 It looks like the last tenant left in a hurry,’ I said to the landlord, as he showed me around the old cottage for rent. Dishes were still on the table, food left in the cupboards, and clothes hung in the wardrobes. ‘She was just odd,’ he said, dismissively. It was February 2003 and, a single mum, I needed somewhere to live with my son Jack, then four, so we moved in. That night I heard doors banging and heavy footsteps. Rushing downstairs, my jaw dropped. My ironing was out of its basket, strewn across the floor and over light fittings. Soon after, Jack who was tucked up in bed, screamed. I bolted upstairs and froze in the doorway.…

Music isn’t just something we listen to – it’s something we feel. Whether you’re blasting rock or swaying to more gentle sounds, your musical taste says a lot about your inner self. Ready to discover your spiritual vibe? Take the quiz to find out what your musical taste reveals about your soul! 1 WHEN YOU NEED A MOOD BOOST, YOU USUALLY… A Put on something upbeat with a strong chorus B Blast guitar-heavy anthems C Sink into something smooth and soulful D Sing along to heartfelt ballads 2 YOUR IDEAL LIVE MUSIC SETTING IS… A A stadium with a spectacular show B A dark dance club C A candlelit jazz bar D A field under the stars 3 LYRICS YOU CONNECT WITH MOST ARE… A Empowering and catchy B Raw…

CRUNCHY KATSU CHICKEN SALAD SERVES 4 PREP & COOK 35 MINS 400g box frozen original chicken breast tenders 2 cups sliced wombok (Chinese cabbage) 1 cup shredded carrot 4 green onions, thinly sliced 1 Lebanese cucumber, halved lengthways, diagonally 2 tbsp tonkatsu sauce ¼ cup bottled Vietnamese salad dressing 100g packet fried noodles Japanese mayonnaise, dried chilli flakes, to serve 1 Cook chicken tenders according to packet directions. Cool slightly then cut diagonally into 1cm slices. 2 Place wombok, carrot, onions, cucumber and chicken in a large bowl. 3 Combine tonkatsu sauce with salad dressing in a small jug. Pour over salad. Add fried noodles. Toss. 4 Drizzle mayonnaise over salad. Sprinkle with chilli flakes. Good to know Tonkatsu is a rich tangy, Japanese barbecue style sauce available in the…

TIM TAM MOCHA RASPBERRY TART SERVES 8-10 PREP & COOK 40 MINS ½ x 250g packet Butternut Snap Cookie biscuits 200g packet Original Tim Tams 50g butter, melted 250g punnet raspberries Whipped cream, to serve FILLING 180g block dark cooking chocolate (40%), finely chopped 1 tbsp caster sugar 2 tsp instant coffee granules 25g butter, chopped 1½ cups thickened cream 1 Grease a 23cm round loose-base flan tin (3cm deep). Place on a tray. 2 Process cookies and six Tim Tams in a food processor until finely crushed. Add butter and process until combined. Press over the base and up the side of prepared tin. Refrigerate while preparing filling. 3 FILLING Place chocolate, sugar, coffee, butter and ½ cup cream in a large, heatproof bowl. Sit bowl over a large…

Picking a mobile phone plan is no longer just a choice between three main providers. In fact, I stopped counting when I got to provider number 33! No wonder people stay on the same plan for years – trying to choose a new one is a bit overwhelming. When ploughing through the plethora of phone plans it helps to have a clear idea of what features you need so you don’t end up spending unnecessarily on features you won’t use. Here are a few questions to ask yourself to help narrow down the options . DO YOU CALL OVERSEAS? Most providers include domestic texting and calls in their basic plans but charge extra for overseas. If you have family or friends abroad, or you want to stay in touch with…

Mindfulness doesn’t just help ease your mind – it can dial down physical pain, too. When you practise being present, your brain’s pain response changes. You’re less likely to tense up or catastrophise, which means you feel pain less intensely. Regular mindfulness or meditation can also help lower stress hormones and boost your tolerance to pain. While a GP should be seen for severe or ongoing pain, mindfulness can help you handle discomfort with a bit more calmness and control. HEALTH TIPS ARE FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY. THAT’S LIFE! ACCEPTS NO RESPONSIBILITY NOR ASSUMES ANY LIABILITY FOR DAMAGE OR INJURY TO PERSONS OR PROPERTY ARISING FROM ANY USE OF ANY PRODUCT, INFORMATION, IDEA, OR INSTRUCTION CONTAINED IN THIS SECTION. IF YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH CONCERNS, SEEK MEDICAL ADVICE IMMEDIATELY.…