Innehållsförteckning för Issue 37, 2025 från that's life!

Spring has finally sprung here in Sydney after weeks and weeks of cold weather and constant rain. It’s been lovely to finally see – and feel – the sun! And it’s definitely good news for the walls in my unit, which seem to break out in mould and mildew at the first hint of damp weather. What it’s not good news for is my nose and eyes. That’s because, for about 15 years now, I’ve had hayfever. I forget about seasonal allergies every winter but remember when, sure enough, I wake up with a blocked nose, itchy and crusty eyes (nice!) and a headache come spring. So I was glad to see some tips on tackling hayfever in Living Well (page 64) this week. It’s not good news for my…

Kaitlyn was enjoying drinks with mates when the unthinkable happened Kaitlyn Scott, 27, Perth, WA Bringing the bottle of VB to my lips, I took another sip. As John Denver’s song ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads’ played in the background, my sister Lyndall, 18, and I shimmied to the beat. It was January 2018 and, aged 19, I’d spent the evening enjoying drinks and dinner at the local pub with my friends. Now, 10 of my mates had come back to my house in Avoca, Victoria, for a dance and more bevvies. It was around 10pm when my mate Emma, then 19, pointed to my almost empty VB stubby. ‘Want another one?’ she asked. ‘Yeah, go on!’ I replied, as she handed me a bottle. I was wiping down the…

After a devastating diagnosis, Paige had some fun with her friends Paige Swalue, 34, Tumby Bay, SA Cradling my daughter Daisy in my arms, I felt so blessed. After several miscarriages, and being told by doctors I had unexplained infertility, she was my miracle baby. At six months old, Daisy began refusing to feed from my right breast, but she happily latched on to the left. I thought she was being fussy, but night after night, she turned away. ‘That’s strange,’ I said to my husband Jake, then 30. Previously, at my six-week post-partum check-up, I’d noticed my right breast was significantly larger and had stretchmarks, but the midwives told me it was normal. Curious now, I gave my right breast a squeeze. There was a tiny, rock-hard lump. Thinking…

PINA COLADA CAKE SERVES 12-14 PREP & COOK 1 HOUR 15 MINS 4 50g can crushed pineapple in syrup 175g butter, softened 1¼ cups caster sugar 1 tbsp finely grated lime rind 4 eggs ½ cup shredded coconut, plus ½ cup toasted shredded coconut to decorate  2 cups self-raising flour  ½ cup coconut milk  Pineapple flowers, (optional) FROSTING  1 ½ x 250g blocks cream cheese,  chopped (375g)  100g butter, softened  2 tsp vanilla extract  2 cups icing sugar mixture 1 Grease two 20cm round cake pans. Line bases and sides with baking paper. 2 Place crushed pineapple in a sieve over a jug. Press with the back of a spoon to drain well. Reserve ½ cup pineapple syrup. 3 Beat butter, sugar and lime rind in small bowl of an electric…

When my husband, Shannon, and I were packing for our holiday in Bali, I should have been excited. But instead I couldn’t shake disturbing thoughts of volcanoes erupting, planes crashing and dengue fever! Fun, huh?! Having never spent more than two nights away from Xander in his entire life, I had the realisation that, if something happened to us, Xander would be left to deal with the aftermath all alone. The idea made me feel sick. I realised that, while we were planning a week of relaxing, we also had to plan for the unlikely event that something could go wrong. Yes, I was being a party pooper, but if the worst were to happen I wanted to make sure that at least the financial and practical side of things…

Hayley turned her pain into purpose Hayley Kinneavy, 29, Kilsyth, Vic Clutching my belly, I doubled over in agony. It was that time of the month again. Ever since my periods began when I was a teen, I’d had excruciating pain. My GP put me on the pill, which helped mask the symptoms. But when I came off it at 23 in 2019, the pain came crashing back, harder than ever. I’d just started working in my dream job as a primary school teacher, but the intense abdominal pain which spread to my back and legs was unbearable. And some days, even when I wasn’t on my period, I could barely walk. Sick of GPs brushing me off, I went to see a gynaecologist who arranged a laparoscopy. Following the…

WE PAY FOR EACH PHOTO USED WINNERS ARE GRINNERS Thank you so much for the wonderful book I won! I enter every week. What a wonderful surprise! Judith Seamer, Ocean Shores, NSW Abbie and Arnie are having a lazy winter’s day. Karen Tran, Greenbank, Qld Chester loves his TV box. It’s one of his favourite places to hide. Nicole Webster, Griffin, Qld $50 CASH HOW TO WIN... This image has been taken from the film Judy. We have tinkered with the image and have added something that doesn’t appear in the original scene (5). Write which object doesn’t belong only on the entry coupon and you could be a winner. Turn to entry coupon (p50) to enter! WHAT’S ODD? PUZZLE Cousins Ollie, Charlotte, Phoebe and Sophie had the best day…

Leah thought she’d found the one, but he was hiding a sick secret Leah Holmes, 42 Peering at the message on my phone, I frowned. I have to warn you about Jon. He’s an abuser. He controlled me and abused me daily, the text read. It was from a woman named Hannah – the ex-girlfriend of my partner, Jon, then 34. Her words made my blood boil. Jon and I met through work at a department store and had been dating for three months. From the beginning, he told me how he was depressed due to his controlling ex-girlfriend, Hannah. He explained she wasn’t letting him see his children. My heart broke for him. As a single mum to two children, *Fiona, then seven, and *Eddie, six, I couldn’t imagine…

SAN CHOY BAU SERVES 4 PREP & COOK 20 MINS 2 tbsp peanut oil 500g pork mince 200g packet sliced button mushrooms 2 tsp minced ginger ⅓ cup chopped water chestnuts 2 tbsp kecap manis 2 tbsp oyster sauce 1 tsp sesame oil 1 large carrot, peeled, grated ¼ cup finely chopped fresh coriander Iceberg lettuce cups, to serve Toasted sesame seeds and fresh coriander leaves, to garnish 1 Heat half the peanut oil in a large frying pan over a high heat. Add pork. Cook, stirring with a wooden spoon to break up mince, for about 5 mins or until cooked through. Remove. 2 Add remaining peanut oil to same pan with mushrooms and ginger. Cook, stirring, for 2 mins. Return pork to pan with chestnuts and combined kecap…

A hanging plant pot is great for storing pegs as any rainwater will drain away. Hannah Williams, Tumbi Umbi, NSW To keep your kitchen and bathroom taps shiny, wipe over with glass cleaner and then polish with a clean soft cloth. Elizabeth Potter, Dunedin, NZ Wrapping paper can be re-used if it’s pressed under a dry cloth with a cool iron to remove creases. Ann Rooney, Sale, Vic I carry a small ziplock bag with painkillers, allergy tablets and bandaids in my handbag for emergencies. Merina Pannunzio, Netherby, SA When baking fish, wrap it in a parcel with slices of lemon and sprigs of rosemary for a delicious flavour. Maggie Townsend, Haven, Vic Try a new use for... baking paper ■ Use baking paper to line your wardrobe or kitchen…

Are you ruled by fiery Mars, dreamy Venus, wise Saturn, or clever Mercury? This quiz will help you uncover the celestial body that most aligns with your inner energy. Answer each of the questions honestly, then add your points and find your ruling planet! 1 How do you respond to conflict? A Stay calm and think it through B Speak your truth, even if it stings C Avoid it and retreat D Try to keep the peace 2 Which colour are you most drawn to? A Deep red B Sky blue C Forest green D Gold 3 What makes you happiest? A Creating something beautiful B Making a bold move or taking a risk C Learning and growing D Supporting others emotionally 4 How would people describe your energy? A…

After a devastating diagnosis Kristi turned her life around Kristi Ledgerwood, 45 Wolfing down my cheeseburger meal, I licked my lips. That barely touched the sides, I thought, still hungry. It was February 2022 and, aged 42, I felt ashamed. I knew my weight was controlling my life, but I felt powerless to change it. For 10 years, I’d barely left the house due to a mystery illness – I suffered inflammation pain all over and horrible headaches. Even just trying to walk, I’d faint or vomit. I didn’t go to the doctors out of fear... Over the years, I’d tried every diet under the sun to lose weight, to no avail. Now, I was so unhealthy I couldn’t even tie my shoelaces or sleep in my bed due to…

BA BA BEAUTIFUL! Kiki the lamb was born in 2021 with fused joints and spinal issues meaning she couldn’t walk, so sadly her mother rejected her at birth. But when Kiki was taken in by the Don’t Forget Us, Pet Us sanctuary in Massachusetts, US, at just 11 days old, her luck changed. Animal-lover Deb Devlin had a lightbulb moment when she noticed Kiki could press buttons on toys using her head. So Deb set about adapting a motorised wheelchair and thene taught Kiki to operate it by pressing her head against a joystick. It didn’t take long before Kiki was zipping around all over the sanctuary in her very own lamb-orghini. Wardrobe WILDLIFE London-based artist Helga Stentzel works with all kinds of media including photography, animation and illustration. But…

SPICED SWEET POTATO FRITTERS SERVES 6 PREP & COOK 35 MINS ½ cup self-raising flour 3 eggs, lightly beaten 350g sweet potato, peeled, grated ⅓ cup currants 1 tbsp mild curry powder  ¾ cup finely chopped fresh mint leaves, plus extra to serve Vegetable oil, for shallow frying ¾ cup Greek-style yoghurt Lemon wedges, to serve 1 Place flour into a large bowl. Add eggs, sweet potato, currants, curry powder and ½ cup of the mint. Season with salt and pepper and mix well. 2 Heat enough oil in a large, deep frying pan to shallow-fry over a medium heat. Add 1 tbsp of the mixture, spreading slightly to make a small fritter. Repeat to make six more. 3 Cook for about 2 mins on each side, or until golden…

Valerie Tindall had a smile that lit up every room she walked into. The 17-year-old loved spending time with her family, including her four siblings and little cousins. Valerie was in her final years of school and had already been accepted into uni. She loved animals and hoped to become a veterinarian. When she wasn’t busy playing video games or singing, Valerie was working hard, juggling part-time jobs at Macca’s and Domino’s, but it was a gig in lawn-mowing that she most enjoyed. She’d landed the job two years earlier after her parents, Shena Sandefur and Jack Tindall had made the move from Indianapolis, US, to rural Arlington, Virginia, to escape the escalating violence in the big city. Her boss was their neighbour, Patrick Scott, 59, who ran his own…

Bodybuilder Rebecca is chasing Paralympic dreams in full Barbie mode! Rebecca Vizi, 37, Baringa, Qld Opening my wardrobe, I ran my hand along the rails. Hmm, what should I wear today? I wondered. It was a trick question – every single item was pink! From baby pink to hot pink, soft blush to neon fuchsia – if it was pink, I owned it. But my love affair with pink didn’t start with fashion. It began 10 years ago when I was 27 and struggling with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and depression. I’d left my job in childcare and was adjusting to new medication, which caused me to gain weight. At 80 kilos and 159cm tall, I struggled to carry the extra kilos. Then one morning, instead of reaching for my…

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