Innehållsförteckning för TAK2539 från Take 5

Editorial

One of the things I love about working on a real-life magazine is speaking with real people. We deal with genuine, unfiltered people every day, which makes work more fascinating. The beauty of our job? Everyone has a story and we love to hear ’em – so be sure to write in with yours! Just when you think you’ve heard it all, another new reality comes along. One of our mottos is ‘we accept all sorts’. We really just listen and tell, without judgement. I was particularly moved reading Tamara’s story over the page this week. She met Nick after he lost his arms and legs and fell in love. Nick still managed to pick Tamara up and open car doors for her – more chivalrous than most able-bodied blokes!…

Editorial

Double The Love

I felt butterflies as David’s gaze met mine. It was 1998. I was 26, finishing a PhD in Australian cinema. He was a science lecturer. We’d never shared a class, but met through a lunchtime group. Soon after we started dating, I told him about my first marriage at 20. Then, my husband and I, both rebelling against religious upbringings, had agreed to an open marriage. For a while I loved the thrill, until jealousy and drama destroyed us. “It was a disaster,” I told David. “Never again.” “That kind of relationship wouldn’t be for me,” he said David, also divorced, didn’t want to remarry, which suited me perfectly. Jealousy, drama destroyed us He was funny, wise and loyal, and I had no doubt he was the man I wanted…

Double The Love

Bedtime battles

Bedtime battles

If you ever find yourself staying up late for no good reason, you could be suffering from revenge bedtime procrastination (RBP). RBP is the act of forcing yourself to stay awake, even when your body is telling you it needs to sleep. It’s often the result of feeling like you don’t have enough time in the day to do all of the things you want to do. RBP is your subconscious’ way of reclaiming me time after a busy day jam-packed with things you’re obligated to do, as opposed to things you actually want to do. People with high-pressure jobs and family commitments are most prone to RBP, but it can affect anyone. Those who struggle with RBP likely feel deprived of downtime during the day, and consider late evenings…

Your tips

Your tips

I always book an extra day off work after a holiday to relax at home before I go back to work. Beth Martin, Petone, NZ. Roasted chickpeas with a little salt and paprika make healthy snacks. You can even cook them in the air fryer. Cathy Bennett, Townsville, Qld. If you eat something that’s too spicy, eat some yoghurt to cool down your mouth. Trish Maxwell, Darwin, NT. I put a strip of bright pink gaffer tape on the handle of my gardening tools so I can find them in the garden more easily. Julia Larsen, Eltham, Vic. Use an old pillowcase to clean ceiling fans. Put it over each blade and wipe, so that all the dust gets collected inside the pillowcase. Leah Garcia, Springwood, Qld. For a cheap,…

Classic Collectables

Classic Collectables

Thor Hammer Watch $229.96 Engraved on the back of the casing with a quote and individual edition number Holden Legends Hoodie $179.94 TOP PICK FOR: THE REV HEADS Harry Potter Hogwarts Lamp $299.96 TOP PICK FOR: MOVIE BUFFS Disney Mickey Mouse A Minnie Mo Patchwo Tote Ba $199.95 TOP PICK FOR: FESTIVE FANS Thomas Kinkade Studios ‘Santa’s Night Before Christmas’ Sculpture $199.95 Plays a medley of Christmas carols for a festive and joyful atmosphere Disney Mickey Mouse And Minnie Mouse Patchwork Tote Bag $199.95 TOP PICK FOR: FASHION FIEND Market first and limited edition! Christmas Village Wreath $299.99 Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity Ford Mustang Silver Red Watch $279.95 TOP PICK FOR: RETRO CLASSICS Coca-Cola Vending Machine Wall Clock $299.96 HOW TO PURCHASE To buy or enquire about any…

Stacked delight

Doughnut tiramisu stack SERVES 4 PREP 30 MINS 3 egg yolks 2 tbsp caster sugar 250g tub mascarpone ½ cup thickened cream ¼ cup Tia Maria ½ tsp vanilla extract 1 cup strong black coffee, cooled 6 cinnamon sugar doughnuts, halved horizontally 100g dark chocolate, finely grated, plus curls, to serve 2 tsp cinnamon sugar Cocoa, to dust 1 In a bowl, using an electric mixer, beat egg yolks and sugar 4-5 mins until pale and thick. Add mascarpone, cream, 1 tbsp Tia Maria and vanilla. Beat until soft peaks form. 2 Transfer cream mixture to piping bag with plain nozzle. Set aside. Add remaining Tia Maria to coffee. 3 Place four, 6 x 8cm round, deep, greased moulds on a tray lined with baking paper. 4 Dip four doughnut…

Stacked delight

The Highland higway

The Highland higway

The North Coast 500 (NC500) is a 830km loop that starts and ends in the gorgeous Scottish city of Inverness, but there are as many approaches to the route as there are travellers. These are just some of the ways you can build the trip of a lifetime… 1 THE CLASSIC TIME: 8 days BEST FOR: A balanced trip with enough time to get stuck in This itinerary heads anticlockwise, the most popular direction, saving the stunning west coast till last. The timeframe means you’ll have fairly short driving days, covering just over 100km per day, with the opportunity for plenty of stops to enjoy the NC500’s beaches, villages, lochs and mountains. 2 THE SHORT TRIP TIME: 4 days BEST FOR: The time-poor who still want a proper NC500 experience…

Running After You

Bent double, hands on my knees, I gasped for air. “I can’t breathe,” I panted to my boyfriend, Nick, 29. It was the second COVID lockdown in 2021. Nick had taken up running and urged me to join him. “Come on, just to the next tree,” he coaxed. “I can’t,” I moaned, spent. I’d always preferred boxing and gym classes and had never been a runner. Walking home through silent streets emptied of cars and people, I felt disappointed I couldn’t make it round the block. “You’ll do it next time,” Nick smiled, squeezing my hand. With his support I kept trying. He chatted as we jogged, pointing out birds and street art to distract me. Slowly I managed a little further each time. When I finally ran the whole…

Running After You

Love Without Limits

Love Without Limits

I nervously chewed my lip, my fingers hovering over the keyboard. Oh God, what do I say back? I fretted. I didn’t want to leave Nick hanging in case he thought I was ignoring him. It was 2019. For two months, Nick and I had been chatting on Plenty of Fish when he suddenly dropped a bombshell. I need to tell you something, he wrote. I’m a quadruple amputee. All his photos showed only his face, so I had no idea. His profile said he used a wheelchair, but I’d assumed it was only his legs. It had felt rude to ask. Another message came through. I can still do everything. It just takes me a little longer, he wrote. That made me feel better. Then he began telling me…

Tall Is Beautiful

Tall Is Beautiful

Standing in the fitting room, I wriggled my long legs into a pair of jeans. When the hem actually grazed my ankles, I nearly burst with joy. “I can’t believe it,” I gasped. At just 12, I already stood an impressive 187cm – far taller than the other girls my age. Shopping with Mum, Krissy, and Gran, Alice, we’d spend hours hunting for jeans that would fit. But my legs were so long that everything rode up my shins. Finally, in the adults’ section, I’d scored a winner. “These are so cute,” I said, admiring myself in the mirror. I wasn’t thrilled about pairing them with my old skater sneakers, but at a size-12 shoe there wasn’t much else available. “Don’t worry, love,” Mum said supportively. “I think you look…

Up your Game

Colourful scarves Think painterly prints, dopamine-bright hues, and silky textures that instantly elevate any outfit. Worn as a headscarf, tied to a bag, or even threaded through belt loops, they’re the versatile accessory making minimal outfits feel maximal. Oversized bags Micro bags are out, oversized totes and slouchy hobo styles are in. Equal parts practical and stylish, these roomy bags are both chic and functional. Stuff them with everything you need for work or weekends – this trend is about effortless, big-bag energy. ‘60s-style sunnies From oversized with Jackie O vibes to slender oval frames, retro sunnies are in, with ’60s styles firmly in the spotlight. Whether you prefer exaggerated glamour or sleek minimalism, these shades bring instant cool to your everyday look. Get waisted Belts are back, from chic…

Up your Game

Trapped In Terror

Trapped In Terror

I hummed along to the radio as I pulled up at the bus stop with my 11-year-old twins, Ashton and Cadin, then we waited for their bus. “Excited for sports day?” I asked, watching their eager faces. Both boys grinned. “I’m gonna win loads of ribbons,” Ashton declared. “Not if I win ’em first,” Cadin shot back, ever the competitor. They looked different, but the boys shared the same passion for running, high jump and footy. When the bus arrived, they bounded on board, waving goodbye. It was May 2023. Later that day, I headed over to the stables to muck out our horses. Suddenly, the calm was torn apart by sirens wailing, followed by helicopters circling above like vultures. Something awful must have happened, I thought, but pushed the…

The Kayak Mystery

The Kayak Mystery

When Vincent Viafore met Angelika Graswald in a New York bar in 2011, he felt an instant connection. Like him, Angelika, then 37, was outgoing, fun, and full of life. They bonded over their love of nature and the outdoors – especially kayaking. Both had been married before and had no children. Vincent, 46, admired Angelika’s courage in leaving Latvia to work in the US as a nanny, while she was drawn to his larger-than-life personality, successful career in the New York State Office of General Services, and loyalty to his friends. Things moved fast. Within weeks, Angelika moved in with Vincent. Five months later, he proposed at a steakhouse, offering her an onion ring from the grill. The couple planned a European wedding by the Baltic Sea, with a…

Pistachio power!

Lemon & pistachio slice MAKES 8 PIECES PREP 10 MINS COOK 40 MINS 1¼ cups plain flour, plus 2 tbsp extra ¼ cup icing sugar mixture, plus extra to dust 125g cold butter, chopped 1 cup caster sugar 2 eggs 2 tbsp lemon juice ¼ cup toasted pistachios Whipped cream, fresh raspberries, sliced strawberries, mini meringues, to serve 1 Lightly grease and line an 1 8cm x 28cm rectangular slice pan with baking paper, extending paper 3cm above pan edges. 2 Place flour and icing sugar into a medium bowl. Using fingertips, rub in butter until mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Press evenly over base of prepared pan. 3 Cook in a 180°C preheated oven for 20 mins until golden. 4 In a jug, whisk caster sugar, eggs, juice and extra flour…

Pistachio power!

I Told You So!

I Told You So!

Hi Take 5ers, I have been married to my husband for nearly 40 years and every time I put veggies in a meal, he won’t eat them. After years of throwing his portion of veggies in the bin, I finally stopped serving them with his meals. After that, he’d look at my plate and say things like, “I can’t believe you’re eating that! Veggies aren’t a real meal!”. This went on for years. Now my husband has returned from the doctors after being told he has severe stomach problems and was given a special diet, including lots of soft-boiled veggies. He said to me, “I guess you were right.” Now, because his health is damaged, he expects me to cook him special veg. I told him to make his own.…

Musthead

EDITORIAL Editorial Director Kate Kirsten, Acting Editor Kim Bonett, Acting Deputy Editor Natasha Todd, Art Director Fiona Parsons, Picture Editor Vanessa Mckenzie 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. ©2024. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or part without prior written permission. Take5 is a registered trade mark of Are Media. Use of trademark strictly prohibited. Licensing Inquiries: www.contentshop.com.au /…

Musthead

No Means No

As the opening bars of Adele’s Rolling in the Deep blasted through the speakers, I grinned and nudged my mate Vicky at the bar. “This is going to be hilarious,” I laughed, as one of the guys who’d been chatting us up stepped on stage. But when he opened his mouth, we were stunned. His voice was strong, soulful and brilliant. “No way,” I gasped. “He’s amazing.” After leaving a toxic relationship, Wednesday karaoke nights had become my escape. A babysitter would come around and watch my one-year-old daughter, while I let my hair down with Vicky. That night, in March 2011, we’d met the singer and his mate David. Though the singer was quite charming, David was less so. And while Vicky giggled over drinks with the singer, I…

No Means No

Fresh Pick

Fresh Pick

Edited extract from Reset, Nourish, Burn by Susie Burrell & Leanne Ward (Penguin, $36.99) Spring is the season that sees many of us resetting habits as the warm weather inspires us to start kicking those health goals. One way to help is eating lighter at dinnertime. With benefits including better digestion (which can also help you to sleep), the key to eating light at night is to pack a balance of healthy nutrients into all your meals throughout the day. Nutritionists Susie Burrell and Leanne Ward share some delicious, nourishing and satisfying dinner ideas… HOMEMADE PIZZA A healthy pizza comes down to the base and the toppings. Try to opt for a thinner base, use small amounts of lean protein and load up the veggies. Try to avoid high-fat toppings…

My Week-long Layover

Staring at the airport carpet, my mind began to wander. It was March 2025, and I was slumped near my departure gate, waiting to board. Growing up, my dad was a pilot, so airports were always a big part of my life. Now, my work as an online content creator took me all over the world. Looking around me, I thought of the Tom Hanks movie, The Terminal, about a man who winds up having to live in an airport. I like airports, but could I handle that? Always on the hunt for quirky content, I challenged myself to spend a whole week in one. Quickly, I settled on Changi Airport, Singapore, which has been named the world’s best airport 13 years running. During previous layovers, I was impressed by…

My Week-long Layover

Beauty With a Purpose

Beauty With a Purpose

Once upon a time, you had to search high and low for eco-friendly, sustainable and ethical beauty brands. But in 2025, so many brands are making these practices a cornerstone of their products, they’re way easier to find! Here’s just a handful of our fave eco-loving beauty brands. LANOLIPS If we weren’t already obsessed with all that Lanolips does there’s another reason to love the Aussie brand. The company sources sustainable and cruelty-free lanolin from Australian and New Zealand wool, supporting our farmers. And in 2023, they introduced fully recyclable bioplastic packaging for their cult Glossy Balms… like, wow. We love… Lanolips Golden Dry Skin Salve, $19.95 EYE OF HORUS Born in Byron Bay, Eye of Horus is all about slow, ethical beauty with clean, conscious formulations. Their products are…

Dinner winners!

Crispy chilli pork SERVES 4 PREP 10 MINS COOK 30 MINS 1⁄3 cup peanut oil, plus extra to fry 6 long red chillies, chopped, plus extra to serve 1 large red onion, chopped 4 cloves garlic, bruised 2 tsp shrimp paste 3cm piece of ginger, chopped ½ cup firmly packed brown sugar 1⁄3 cup lime juice 1 tbsp soy sauce 650g pork neck, trimmed, cubed ½ cup plain flour 500g green beans, blanched Steamed white rice, shredded green onion, to serve 1 Line an oven tray with baking paper. 2 In a small frying pan, heat oil on high. Fry chilli, onion, garlic, shrimp paste and ginger 1-2 mins until crisp. Drain. Using a food processor, process to a thick paste with sugar, lime juice and soy. 3 Toss pork…

Dinner winners!

My Ai Best Friend

My Ai Best Friend

Staring at my laptop, I let out a heavy sigh. It was 2022 and I was feeling stuck in my job as a tech advisor. Every time I caught up with friends I’d pester them for career advice. “I probably sound like a broken record,” I cringed. ChatGPT, the artificial intelligence chatbot, had just been released so I tried engaging it instead. How can I advance in my career? I typed. Tell your boss you’re good at baking and multitasking, it replied. Is that a joke? I thought. I was a data scientist and developer, not a baker! Disappointed, I closed my laptop, but the interaction stuck with me. If only there was AI that understood women and spoke to us like real people, not outdated stereotypes, I thought. In…

Stars

Stars

OCT 2-8 LIBRA Sep 24 -Oct 23 The choices you do or don’t make this week could really change a lot of things – no pressure! Relationships, happiness, the meaning of life – all this and more is up for grabs. You’re not always the best at making choices. ★ If things feel unclear or uncertain, lean into trust! CAPRICORN Dec 23 -Jan 20 Now that the Sun is in your Career Zone, it’s time for you to put an emphasis on your professional path and your overall direction in life. Are things balanced in a way that works for you or are adjustments required? ★ Go back over some old ideas and reinvigorate them! SCORPIO Oct 24 -Nov 22 If you’ve had aspirations to finish the year strong, well…

Your letters

Your letters

Podgy poet My partner, Rod, had been told by our doctor that he needed to adopt a healthier diet and lose a few kilos, so when I walked into the kitchen and saw him slathering a slice of sourdough with butter I frowned. “Don’t lecture me!” Rod warned. “You can take my chocolate and give me fruit instead, but life is too short not to have butter on my bread!” Sharon Alba, Risdon Park, SA. WE PAY $100 FOR EACH LETTER PRINTED Timely gesture I’ve been having some health problems and find walking is the best therapy. I often amble past my favourite garden, which always has something of beauty to grab my attention. One day the owner asked how I was doing. I shared my woes and the next…