that's life! Issue 1, 2022

One of the gifts I noticed at the Secret Santa we had at the office and also among family were card games. From Junior UNO for the grandkids, right up to one called Exploding Kittens. It made me wonder if old-fashioned cards – the clubs, spades, hearts and diamonds kind – were still popular. If the tl! team is anything to go by, they definitely are! Beth is a lot like me with cards, and needs the rules explained to her pretty much every time. But her favourite is a game I’d never heard of called Yaniv. ‘It’s brilliant,’ she said. ‘I play it with my sister and her hubby’s family. It’s the only game I ever win at!’ Lisa, who used to work at tl! years ago and has…

Evie and Prince always love to have a cuddle! Kylie Relf, Cammeray, NSW ME and my PET Milla and Willow are loving the school holidays, spending all their time in the pool! Veronica Whitmee, Naremburn, NSW Manola, me (in the middle) and Tina enjoying time around the pool at Lake Conjola – with our that’s life! magazines, of course. We reckon this is the life! Cassie Beattie, Yowie Bay, NSW My grandson Leo, 18 months, had a great time visiting Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, Tas, on a day out. Denis Moles, Rokeby, Tas Not everyone can see the great view from the top of the Bowl at Arthur River, Tas – access is mostly for four wheel drives and motorbikes. Ali Stone, Penguin, Tas Thank you that’s life! for my fabulous prize. Diane Anderson, via email are grinners WINNERS I loved spending time with…

Shelley Gowley, 46, Townsville, Qld Time for bed,’ I said, tucking the baby into her cot and kissing her little head. ‘What are you up to?’ my mum Dawn asked, looking around my bedroom door. ‘Playing mummies and babies, of course,’ I told her. I was six years old, and it was my favourite game. It stayed that way as I grew up – my dream was to become a real-life mummy. In my 20s, I got a job in childcare. And when my childhood sweetheart Travis and I got married, we were surprised kids hadn’t already arrived, as we hadn’t been using contraception for years. ‘I want children as much as you do,’ he said. While we waited for it to happen, we decided to start fostering, so we had a houseful of kids to love. ‘Why…

Sitting in the backyard, I felt content. It was a balmy summer’s evening, and I was at my office doing some late-night work. Co-owner in a digital printing business, I was making button badges for a client. With New Year’s Eve the next day, I wanted to get on top of work before the celebrations began. And, as it was so nice, I’d decided to work outside in the yard, which was surrounded by a huge 2.5-metre-high wall. With some music tinkling away in the background, I got stuck in. Suddenly, I felt two hands around my throat. And a screwdriver was being held up to my neck. I let out a bloodcurdling scream. Jumping up from my chair, I twisted around and saw that the hands, which were still around me, belonged to a short, stocky man. Trying to…

The ultimate challenge came when I had to face my attacker, 14 years later… I’d moved away from my home town and was returning for a holiday. Days before the visit, I phoned prison authorities to ask about my rapist. It turned out he was coming up for parole on the first day of my trip. I knew that I had to go for myself. What’s more, I knew that to move forward in my life, I had to forgive him. So, in September 2009, I stood up in court and read out a speech I’d written. Facing him, I said, ‘My goal for today is to forgive you comfortably, compassionately, completely and joyfully. ‘I choose to heal the memory of the attack and rape, and to alter my response to the fallout that is still…

Steve, 36, Corrimal, NSW* My wife Hannah was stressing over money. ‘I don’t know if we’re going to have enough cash for food again,’ she sighed. With four kids, there wasn’t much left for anything after all the bills had been paid. Our dream of one day owning our own place seemed impossible. The next day, I went to work glumly wondering how I could make things better. Maybe I should get a better paying job, I thought. But I liked my workplace. It was a large company, but everyone was really friendly. So I decided to ask my boss if I could pick up some overtime instead. ‘Sorry Steve, he’s in a meeting,’ said his PA, Rose. ‘Okay. I’ll come back.’ As I turned to leave, I saw a huge platter of gourmet sandwiches on her desk. My…