Innehållsförteckning för TAK2524 från Take 5

My fairytale came true 40 years later Laura Lee Estes, 67. I breathed in the fresh air, as my friend Paul and I took our usual path around the pond towards the waterfall. “I still think you need to give The Grateful Dead another shot,” he said, mentioning his favourite band again. I laughed. “You know The Who are much more my thing,” I reminded him. It was August 1975. I was 17, and I’d met Paul at a uni party months earlier. We shared the same interests and sense of humour but some things – like our taste in music – were different. That just made for better banter as we went for drives and walks around town. I had an inkling Paul wanted to be more than friends,…

Hot chocolate, cosy jumpers, log fires, cold and flu… Unfortunately, sickness and winter tend to go together. Colder weather means less sunlight and more time spent indoors, where germs have an ideal opportunity to thrive. If you feel like you spend winter always battling cold and flu symptoms, there are some things you can do to boost your immunity. Here are some tips to help your body fight back against the winter lurgies! WATCH YOUR DIET Up your intake of immune-boosting foods like citrus fruits, which are high in vitamin C, leafy greens, which are packed full of vitamins A, C and E and antioxidants, and garlic and ginger, which contain anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties. Other foods which are good for boosting immunity include yoghurt, which is high in probiotics,…

From the deepest despair, I broke boundaries to help myself and others Nurcan Karahan, 29, Townsville, Qld. I heard machines beeping and whirring around me. With effort, I opened my eyes and saw I was lying on a bed in a room. A woman leant over me. “Am I dead?” I asked her. “No,” the stranger said. “You lived.” I closed my eyes as despair crashed over me. I was had attempted to end my life. At the time, I was in an abusive relationship with a man who’d worn me down so much that I felt completely worthless. I had a son, my beautiful Oliver, five, from a previous relationship, but because my self-esteem was in tatters, I honestly felt like my little boy would be better off without…

My digital double made me a star Liz Wright, 64, Purerua, NZ. Walking in from feeding my cows, I decided to read some emails. A quirky message from telecommunications company, Skinny, caught my eye. Love Skinny? We’d love to clone you, the subject line read. The email said Skinny wanted to digitally clone their happiest customer for a new ad campaign. Well, this is interesting, I thought. Previously, I’d worked as a telecommunications engineer, and my son used AI in his job in Australia, so I wasn’t intimidated by new tech. I’d been on Skinny’s affordable mobile plan since 2012 and used it to make regular calls across the ditch. When I saw that the competition offered free data for life plus a talent fee, I applied, arguing that I…

Although Tasmania is small, it sure does make a big impression. From cosy hotels to quirky museums to stunning hikes, this place has it all. Australia’s only island state offers the perfect intersection of eccentricity and elegance for those looking for a memorable short stay this winter. AURORA AUSTRALIS Much like its Northern Hemisphere counterpart, the Southern Lights (Aurora Australis) is one light show with all the magic and whimsy you’d expect – and best of all, it’s free. While glistening curtains, rays, spirals and flickers can be spotted all year round, winter makes for prime viewing time. Head to Bruny Island, Satellite Island or Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park for the best chance of being dazzled. MONA Just 11km north of Hobart’s CBD is where you’ll find the…

Love of words Like the Take 5 team (Rachel’s letter issue 15) I love books. As an adult I’ve moved a lot and each time the room for my library in the new house is chosen and bookcases installed. I’ve even self-published my own children’s picture book called Hello! Who is this? Libraries and schools bought it and I gave copies to the Starlight Foundation. I’m 81 now and about to self-publish my second book. Joy Hampson-Newman, Warwick, Qld. WE PAY $100 FOR EACH LETTER PRINTED Aussie slang Recently, I had an older gentleman bid me farewell with a “Hoo roo!” and it was such a blast from the past that it made me think of other terms I don’t hear very often. Like my grandpa who always said, “Good-o”…

My movies make mementos of people’s lived experiences Dan Thomas, 54, Melbourne, Vic. Patting the semi-cooked potatoes dry, my grandma Beryl carefully placed them into the pot of bubbling oil. My mouth watered at the smell of frying chips. “Your papa used to love these,” she said. “Tell me how you met again,” I asked. My grandfather, Gwyn, had sadly died when I was 13. I often stayed with Grandma in Wales during the school holidays. “On the swings,” she told me. “I was 13 and he was 17. He offered to push me. It was very romantic.” I should’ve asked further questions but as a teenager, I was more interested in devouring her delicious chips than our family history. When I left school, I worked in advertising and comedy…

Loose fit for comfort and style TRENDING NOW! WEEKEND SPORT Stay warm and stylish for a day on the sidelines with loose jeans and a cosy sports puffer. Trouser-like bottoms work to balance out the wide proportions up top while keeping things comfortable. COUNTRY ESCAPE Flared jeans are great for bringing a ’70s vibe to this modern jacket. Layer an open cotton shirt underneath and a western style boot for a touch of styling and extra warmth! Classic, chic burgundy DINNER PLANS Adding gold accessories, dark denim and a pointed toe boot will make this perfect for dinner plans.…

Wash lettuce when you get home then tear it up and spin it in a salad spinner. Put the leaves in a sealed container and they will last longer. Zoe Arnold, Roxburgh Park, Vic. I started using filtered water in my kettle. Our coffee tastes so much better and the kettle doesn’t get that mineral build-up inside. Nicola Francis, Gosford, NSW. Add a cup of lemonade to the water in a clear vase of flowers. It keeps the water clean for weeks and your flowers alive for longer. Anian De Silva, Pascoe Vale, Vic. I coat tofu in cornflour before I fry it to make it crispy. Jasmine Lee, Papakura, NZ. Look for ‘buy nothing’ groups in your neighbourhood on Facebook. You’ll be amazed at what people are giving away!…

Hi Take 5ers, I’ve been training so hard for the last couple of months for my first ever half marathon, and have raised a lot of money for charity. I’ve been so looking forward to it, but recently when I run, I’m getting a twinge in my shins that aches for a while after. The race is in a month, and I can still run, but it’s uncomfortable. I don’t want to do myself some serious damage, but I also don’t want to let people down. So many people doubted I could do it, and I wanted to prove them wrong. If I pull out, I’ll just feel like a failure. What should I do? Jess*, 52 Get it checked, and you can always walk rather than run. Jayne Patton…

There’s something undeniably therapeutic about being outside in nature. Simply put, the quiet and calmness found outdoors is good for the soul. And as our lives become increasingly hectic and technology makes it harder than ever to disconnect, it’s understandable that many people are making a conscious effort to be at one with nature. As a result, pastimes like therapeutic horticulture (TH) – sometimes referred to as garden therapy – are on the rise. According to social worker and horticultural therapist Tanya Bearup, TH “is the purposeful use of gardening and plant-based activities to support physical, emotional and social wellbeing beyond traditional gardening”. In other words, people are finding solace in their gardens beyond just the usual maintenance. FLOWER POWER Tanya says the concept that gardening is good for you…

My bestie fell in love with my boyfriend… and me! Sarah Smith, 24. My best friend, Hunter, 23, hit the accelerator as I turned up Bon Jovi’s Wanted Dead or Alive. “I’m a cowboy, on a steel horse I ride,” we belted out while driving through the countryside. I’d known Hunter for ages, and he’d previously shared a house with me and my boyfriend of six years, James. James and I had recently moved into our own place, which was great, but I really missed Hunter’s charismatic energy, which matched my own. James was more of an introvert and preferred to spend his time playing video games in his room, but I knew he missed Hunter, too. Despite their differences, they got on really well. “Let’s drive off into the…

Our animals love us just as much as we love them Edward Bassingthwaighte, 53, Taradale, Vic. I watched as the local vet pushed his hand up one of our cow’s rectums. “What’s he doing?” I asked my dad, wide-eyed. “Seeing if she’s pregnant,” Dad told me. The technique seemed brutal. “I wish there was a way we could talk with the cow and tell her she’s going to be okay,” I said. It was 1976. I was four years old, living on a beef cattle property in North Queensland. We also had around 120 show horses at any one time. Living on the farm, I witnessed a lot of casual brutality towards animals from humans getting them to do what they wanted. There must be another way, I thought. Aged…