Innehållsförteckning för TAK2517 från Take 5

Alice De Wet, 42, Auckland, NZ. With a pen in hand, I jotted down each tip my friend told me onto my notepad. “This is so helpful. Thank you,” I told him appreciatively. It was 2009, and John, a photographer, was advising me on what lighting techniques to use when photographing the human body. I lived in South Africa and was just starting out as a photographer. My main area of interest was taking portraits of people who were semi-clothed or nude. We enjoy the feeling of freedom For me, it was when they were at their most beautiful. As we chatted about nudity, John revealed to me he was a naturist. “I’ve even been to a nude resort,” he said. Intrigued, I did some research online and discovered naturist…

You may be serving your looks with your make-up, but depending on how you care for your products and tools, your make-up may actually be serving you bacteria. It’s important to purge your make-up bag every once in a while to avoid nasties like breakouts, skin irritations and even infections. IT’S A DATE! Just like food, make-up expires, making it important to keep an eye on the expiration date of your products. Most products now come with a PAO (Period After Opening) symbol, which looks like a tiny open jar. It’s usually found on the back of your product, and it will include a number and a letter – probably something like ‘6M’ or ‘12M’. This means you should bin the product after this period of time – in these…

Tooba Sarwari, 24, Canberra, ACT. Flopping down at the kitchen table, I rubbed my bruised arm. “The ball hit me here, look,” I said, showing my mum Humira. She tutted as she stirred her pot of korme kofta. “Why do you want to do this sport? You see how you hurt yourself,” Mum sighed. My brother Abdul, 12, and I giggled. “Don’t give her a hard time about it,” my dad Mohammad Akbar said coming to my rescue. “You can see how much joy cricket gives her.” I’d recently started playing in Year 10. Growing up in Afghanistan, sport was not something women traditionally did, but I wasn’t your traditional Afghan girl. I worked hard at school because I wanted to become a human rights lawyer one day. Many of…

HERCULES’S HEROES In August 2024, a threeweek-old rhino named Hercules was left fighting for his life after being attacked by a pack of hyenas in Mpumalanga, South Africa. Little did Hercules know, knitting grannies would soon come his rescue! After his run-in with the predatory pack, Hercules suffered fractures, crush injuries, and several infected wounds. The knitting group, Knitting Nannas, which consisted of four grandmothers, had been producing blankets for wildlife charity Blankets For Baby Rhinos and were only too happy to help Hercules by creating some covers to keep him warm. Their blankets were taken to South Africa by the charity’s trustee Liz Conroy, who later showed the group a photo of the adorable baby rhino in his blanket that had been stitched with their love. Hercules was taken…

Bali isn’t just for honeymooners and backpackers – it’s the perfect paradise for families with grown-up kids, blending adventure, culture, and relaxation. From sunrise yoga in Nusa Lembongan to sunset cocktails in Seminyak, Bali offers something for every generation. Whether you crave thrilling surf, spa retreats, or mouth-watering street food, this tropical haven is the ultimate destination for unforgettable family bonding. NUSA LEMBONGAN Take a ferry from Sanur Harbour to the idyllic island of Nusa Lembongan and you’ll find the beautiful Castaway Boutique Resort at Mushroom Bay. Our villa, complete with a central pool, open-air bathroom and large outdoor deck with hammock, was a dreamy retreat. After exploring, lunch at Mahana Point Cliff Cafe and Bar is a must. It’s known for its amazing views, diving platforms and great local…

Lynda Bannister, 70. I couldn’t wipe the grin off my face as I listened to my groom read his vows to me. “I promise to love and protect you for as long as we both shall live,” he said, gazing into my eyes. Paul and I had met when I was 14. Some would say I was too young for love, but as we stood together now, just four years later, I was head over heels. Our love endured through both good and bad times. At the age of 20, our first child – a son – tragically died at birth. Paul, 23, was my rock through that difficult time. The next year, our spirits were lifted when I gave birth to a daughter, Leigh. Five years later, her little…

Jess O’Dwyer, 35, Launceston, Tas. Scrolling through Facebook, a post from a stranger caught my attention. It had been shared widely by people in Tasmania and the man’s words pulled at my heartstrings. I’ve just turned 37 and am a single intended-parent, it said. He was called Joel, and he was looking for someone to help him achieve his lifelong dream of becoming a father. I understood his yearning. I’d wanted to be a mum since I could remember, and had my first child at 16. Now, in April 2023, my husband, Ryan, 36, and I had our hands full with our blended family of eight kids: Chad, 18, Nikaila, 15, Ashton, 15, Bailey, 14, Chenaye, 14, Oaklen, eight, Brooklyn, seven, and Ariella, four. Joel already had three frozen embryos…

Jess Gaddes, 37, Sydney, NSW. As I kissed the girl I fancied at my Year 10 school formal, one of my classmates shouted at me. “That’s disgusting!” she spat. It was 2004, I was 16, and I had recently come out as gay, leaving me ostracised by the students at my school in Sydney, NSW. For as long as I could remember, I’d never fit in, but had a desperate need to be liked. Not able to handle my emotions, I’d started drinking alcohol at 13 and was smoking pot by 15. I felt like a burden to my family. “You’re so smart, Jess,” they told me. But I never felt good enough. I dropped out of school after Year 10, started partying a lot, and took the drug speed.…

Hi Take 5ers, I recently went for a massage and the masseuse was sniffing constantly and stopping every few minutes to wipe her nose (I swear I felt something drip onto my back). I explained that I care for my granddaughter and I didn’t want her getting sick. When she offered to stop the massage, I agreed. At the front desk, I was told there would still be a charge for the appointment. I didn’t argue but I can’t help but feel I was ripped off. Annabel*, 51 She may not have been sick. I get sniffly in air conditioning. Live and learn, don’t pay next time. Stephanie McKendry Are YOU in a tricky situation? Why not write in and let our readers help you out. I would not have…

Simone Williams, 44. As my boyfriend sang to the crowd, I watched in awe. “You were great,” I gushed after his set. “Thanks, babe,” Daniel smiled, kissing me. We’d met at a pub in 2012, and our chemistry was instant. I discovered he was in a rock band and wrote his own music. That night we slept together, but the next morning, he confessed to having a girlfriend. “I never want to see you again,” I fumed, kicking him out. Two years later, he messaged me on Facebook. I’m single and I would love to take you out, he wrote. We got chatting and the following month, I offered to cook him dinner. He turned up with a bottle of red. We shared a kiss, and I felt myself falling…

Are you driving under the influence of someone else’s emotion? In a world fraught with challenges and uncertainties, emotional resilience is a critical asset for navigating the tumultuous seas of modern existence. But how do we cultivate this resilience, and why is it essential for our wellbeing? Throughout my career, I’ve dedicated myself to unravelling the mysteries of emotional resilience. Through extensive research and personal experience, I’ve developed a simple yet effective language, ER, designed to increase emotional resilience, empowering individuals of all ages to harness their inner strength and weather life’s storms. When used daily, language can create neural pathways, establishing new patterns of thought and helping you regain and maintain control of your response to people and circumstances. Let’s embark on a transformative journey to discover five powerful…

Give yourself peace of mind by setting up a five-minute auto delay on emails. It gives you the ability to cancel the email before you send something that might cause dramas. Veronica Miller, Fremantle, WA. Tea towels will fit into a kitchen drawer much better if you roll them instead of stacking them. Belinda Cooper, Albany, WA. I add a little soy sauce to my egg mixture when I’m making scrambled eggs. It gives them extra flavour. Kat Sanchez, Rockhampton, Qld. Put a cinnamon stick in your fruit bowl and it will keep the fruit flies away. Kerrie Ramsey, Kempsey, NSW. When you find a T-shirt you like, buy several of them. You’ll thank yourself later. Kath Kovac, Goulburn, NSW. Sick of always having stained hands after using food colouring,…

Before his passing in 2016, Alfred ‘Alfie’ Date, 110, was known as Australia’s oldest person. But he was mostly known for his lifelong kindness and generosity. In 1931, Alfie picked up knitting needles to make a jumper for his sister-inlaw’s baby boy. That soon turned into a passion for knitting. Over the years, Alfie took on hundreds of requests for jumpers of all sizes from adults to the tiniest little humans. Alfie also branched out to create scarves for his friends and tiny beanies for premature babies. In 2014, two nurses who worked at Alfie’s residential aged care home came to him with a challenge to try and create some jumpers for little penguins, and Alfie was delighted to jump into this new task. ‘I can’t say no,’ Alfie said…

A fresh set of clothes are helping the vulnerable Keith Donnelly, 51, Picnic Point, NSW. I scanned the patients sitting in the hospital waiting room. One man wore filthy clothes and I suspected he’d be Sam*. “Sam Wilson?” I called out. The man stood up. “That’s me,” he said. It was 2013, and I was studying to become a mental health nurse in my home town of Dublin, Ireland. My boss had asked me to collect Sam from the waiting room. It saddened me that his attire had singled him out as the patient likely to have a mental illness. This was usually the case because people were at their lowest when their mental health was bad. “Got anyone who can bring you some fresh clothes?” I asked him. “No,”…

Never say never My whole life I’ve had a fear of driving. I’ve never been in an accident or witnessed anything traumatic so it’s completely irrational, but just the idea of getting behind the wheel gave me a panic attack. In 2024, in honour of my 50th birthday, I decided it was time to conquer that fear. I found a really patient instructor who helped build my confidence driving around a car park and after three lessons I felt ready to go on the road. Slowly but surely, I got better and better and in February this year I passed my driver’s test. I am so proud of myself and want to let everyone know it’s never too late to learn something new. Vanessa Colombera, Renmark, SA. The more the…