Innehållsförteckning för TAK2414 från Take 5

Dear Take 5ers, We’ve recently had new neighbours move in next door. They’ve only been there two months, but we’ve already had problems like their ciggie smoke wafting through our windows, forcing us to keep our windows closed in the heat, and on New Year’s Eve, they played their thumping music until 4am! The racket was so loud, it made our walls shake! Their dogs are always barking, and their kids constantly scream or cry. I’m not saying I’ve anything against kids, but they do this right outside our bedroom window. I don’t feel all that comfortable speaking with them directly. Is there anything I can do? Lorelai*, 45 I don’t think putting a letter in the letterbox is a good idea as it is encroaching on their privacy, but…

WE PAY $100 FOR EACH LETTER PRINTED Double trouble My twin sons are 35 now, but I remember what it was like when they were little as though it were yesterday. That’s why I had to laugh when I saw this mother duck and her two ducklings. The photo represents exactly what it’s like to have adventurous twins – they’re always covered in something sticky or upending themselves into mischief! Natalie Renshaw, Digby, Vic. Treasured memories Reading about editor Rachel’s career highlights in issue 3 prompted me to ask my mum and dad about their best work memories. Mum, Annie, 79, was a nurse and remembers working in the emergency department and delivering a baby right there in the waiting room, and sewing up a cut on a famous Aussie…

Posing naked for art students helped me love my body…  Justine Martin, 53, Vic. Sitting at the dinner table, aged 10, I reached for the ladle and scooped a second hefty portion of lasagne onto my plate. “Haven’t you had enough, garbage truck?” my mum teased. Garbage truck was the nickname given to me by my family due to the amount of food I ate. I used it as a way to drown my emotions. At school, I was called ‘tank’ because I was the tallest and widest kid amongst my peers. By Year 6, I was 161cm, towering over my mum who stood at 155cm. Mum tried to help by taking me to Weight Watchers but it never worked. By 16, my height had reached 180cm, and I’d developed…

Holidays, weddings, big birthdays and moving house – there are some moments we can’t help but get excited about. But when it’s all over, it’s not unusual to feel a bit, well, let down. It’s known as the post-event blues and it’s something many of us experience. “It is not uncommon that we will experience the ‘blues’ following any major event,” explains Dr Timothy Hsi, senior lecturer in counselling from the Australian College of Applied Psychology. Dr Hsi explains the symptoms of “post-event let-down” can range from feelings of emptiness to low mood, low energy or lethargy, general feelings of dissatisfaction, decreased motivation, boredom or a sense of loss. “It’s not uncommon to hear people make statements like, ‘I need another holiday after this holiday!’” he says. There are…

Nuisance calls were making my life a living hell… Karen Smith, 41. The house was peaceful and quiet as I pulled my doona around me and drifted off to sleep. Suddenly, I was startled awake by my phone ringing. “Hello...?” I answered groggily. Hearing a groan of pleasure, my heart sank. “I know what you’re wearing,” said a breathless male voice. “I can’t stop thinking about you in it.” He was clearly masturbating, leaving me repulsed. “Leave me alone,” I yelled, hanging up. It was 2012, and I’d received these calls for three years. At first, I’d thought it was a friend playing a prank, but when the calls turned sexual, I knew it was more sinister. As a single mum who lived alone with my two children, aged four…

TREAT YOUR TEETH Oral hygiene is important. To keep bad breath at bay, opt for a sweet-smelling toothpaste. Not only does it taste great but a fun flavour can banish any unwanted scents, so you can chat away with confidence knowing your breath smells fresh. Hismile Strawberry Toothpaste, $10.40 PERFUME PRIMER The same way primer works to keep your make-up in place, prepping the skin by applying an oil-based moisturiser or balm over places you spritz perfume will help the scent last longer. Handy for when you want it to last all night! Natio Aromatherapy Extra Firming Night Time Moisture Balm, $24.95; Aerre Summer Reverie Parfum, $35 HAPPY FEET As much as we love sunny days, humidity can wreak havoc on our bodies – especially our feet. To keep your…

Why shouldn’t my son own his home? Glenn Keys, 60, Canberra, ACT. Flipping the snags on the barbecue, I spoke to the bloke next to me. “This place is amazing,” I said. “I’d love my son to move somewhere like this one day.” “I’m one of the directors here,” he responded. “Want a tour?” My family and I had come to a disability housing complex in northern Canberra because my son Ehren’s friend Rhys, 26, had just moved in and was having a birthday party. It was 2009, and Ehren was 16. He had Down syndrome and my wife and I wanted him to live independently in the future. The place had six units with their own lounge, bedroom and bathroom that the tenants rented. Feeling inspired, I wanted to…

Six years after saving Dad’s life, she saved mine, too Molly Cunningham Jones, 42. A former police officer and military man, my dad, John, was my hero. So when my hubby called me with some news one night, I panicked. “I think your dad’s having a heart attack,” he said. “We’re on the way to the hospital.” “No, no, no,” I cried. “I can’t lose him, too.” It was just three months since we’d lost my mum and we were all still grieving. Please don’t take my dad. Please... I prayed on the way to emergency. He’d been devastated after losing Mum and had moved in with us so he wouldn’t be alone. Mum had polycystic kidney disease, and while on dialysis, she’d passed away from heart failure. My grandma…

My worst fear in the world was one of my girls being abused like me… Tammy Simpson, 48, Morphettville, SA. I slipped the red sequin dress over my head and did a little twirl. “Mummy, you look booootiful,” my daughter Eden, five, sang in awe. “Thank you, darling,” I smiled. “You always know what to say to make someone feel good.” Eden’s baby sister Charnna-Lee was just one and I was off on a rare night out. I’d split from both their dads and raised the two of them on my own. Eden was a kind and caring girl, and she doted on her baby sister. We did everything together, the three of us. But later, in high school, Eden discovered bad boys and it terrified me. I’d been in…

Our puppy picked the worst time to misbehave… Magda Frattaroli, 26. Sitting down at the restaurant, my fiancé, Donato, 35, and I, enjoyed a moment of calm. It had been a crazy few days getting everything ready for our wedding. In a week’s time, we would be tying the knot in a civil ceremony before flying out to Italy the following day for a huge reception. Donato had some Italian family, but the majority of our 100 guests would be flying from the US and around the globe, including Melbourne. Our flights were booked, our passports were up to date, and we had filed the paperwork registering our intention to get married. “We’d better get back to Chickie,” I said after we’d eaten. Chickie was our cheeky one-and-a-half-year-old golden retriever…

Whether you fancy relaxing by a secluded beach with a cocktail in hand or taking a dip beneath a waterfall, Tropical North Queensland has it all. Not to mention you’re surrounded by lush rainforests with an abundance of tropical fruit and fresh produce at your fingertips. There’s so much more to this region than just the Great Barrier Reef. Mission Beach is a hidden tropical haven, while the Atherton Tablelands is home to some of Australia’s most incredible wildlife and the world’s best waterfalls. PRIVATE PARADISE For a blissful stay surrounded by nature, check out Mt Quincan Crater Retreat. Offering everything from luxurious treehouse cabins complete with a spa, to a cosy lodge perfect for a girl’s getaway, it’s ideal for those wanting to unwind and take in the mountain…