that's life! Issue 13, 2022

It’s right up there with fries from Macca’s! Let’s face it, who doesn’t love talking about food? The tl! team had a lively discussion this week after reading one of our gorgeous items in The Warm Fuzzies on page 74. A kind chef heard that a woman in the last months of her life was craving one of his specialties. So he drove six hours to her home to prepare it, right outside her door. The dish in question had a few of the team scratching their heads and wondering why? That’s because the craved-for menu item was basically broccoli cooked in batter or, to give it’s fancy name, broccoli tempura. Jude and I thought it sounded absolutely delicious. On the odd occasion I’ve been asked to name my last meal…

Isla, four, lights up whenever ice-cream is involved. Her sweet smiling face says it all! Teagan Houston, Leopold, Vic Perfume is my passion. Imagine the wonderful surprise when I came home to this beautiful gift pack. Thank you so much that’s life! Connie Kell, Tuggerah, NSW Now that’s what I call a waterfall! We came across it on Tasmania’s east coast. Ali Stone, Penguin, Tas My husband took this photo of me enjoying a relaxing day out with my favourite that’s life! magazine, on the beautiful waterways of the NSW Central Coast. Doris Zahra, Bensville, NSW Our caravan club – Peter, Peter, me, Cheryl, John, Richard, Wayne, Kerry, Kaye and Terry – enjoyed an outing to Melville Caves, Vic. Debbie Delaforce, Chirnside Park, Vic Dress-up parties are always fun! This one had an initials theme, so here’s Tom as Trump…

Alysha Martin, 34, Gold Coast, Qld As I walked into the nursery, my boy Bodhi flashed me a big, cheeky smile. ‘I love you so much,’ I said, cuddling him tight. It’s moments like these my husband, Trent, 43, and I are grateful for every day. My pregnancy with Bodhi was uneventful. Every scan and test confirmed I was growing a healthy baby. And the day he was born, in January 2020, I was on cloud nine. But the next day, Bodhi failed his hearing test. ‘We’ll test again in a couple of days,’ the midwife said, unconcerned. Sometimes newborns just have a little gunk in their ears. But when Bodhi failed his second test, we consulted an audiologist. ‘Bodhi has mild hearing loss in both ears,’ the specialist confirmed. We weren’t going to let this affect our boy’s quality of…

Mitch Hunter, 41 Leaving the house after a few drinks, I climbed into the front passenger seat of the ute. I was 21 and my mate, Billy – who hadn’t been drinking – was in the driving seat while his girlfriend, Victoria, sat in the back. Suddenly, everything went black. The next I knew, I was waking up in bed. Looking around me, I saw my mum, Gaylah, and stepmum, Debbie, chatting to each other. Why are they talking? I thought. They hate each other. Was I having some sort of weird dream? As I tried to move, I realised my face was wrapped in bandages. ‘Where am I?’ I croaked. ‘You don’t remember?’ Mum asked. As I shook my head, I realised I was in hospital. ‘You were in a car crash, love,’ she explained gently. Over the next few days, I…

Donna Falconer, 58, Dubbo, NSW As the new year dawned, I made myself a promise. This year’s going to be my year, I decided. Aged 44, I was a single mum to three wonderful kids. My sons, Stuart, 21, and Thomas, 20, had both recently flown the coop. And my daughter, Gabie, 18, had just got her driver’s licence. Still, I did lots of volunteer work. For a decade, I’d coordinated the Look Good, Feel Better program – a service that teaches beauty techniques to help people with cancer manage the tough, appearance-related effects of treatment like chemotherapy. I’d even set up a wig library for our local oncology unit. That March, I visited my friend Vonnie and her husband, Bill, in Sydney. Bill worked as the executive chairman for Myer and was telling me that BreastScreen…

Mel, 46, Burleigh Heads, Qld* One day I applied for a job as a book store manager. ‘We’ve employed someone who once owned a second-hand book shop,’ the owner, Ray, told me after the interview. ‘But I’d like to make you assistant manager.’ ‘Thanks,’ I replied. But when I met Lilly, the new manager, I was stunned. She obviously knew nothing about books. ‘Er, how did long did you own a book store?’ I asked. ‘Not very long,’ she said, laughing. ‘I went bankrupt!’ ‘Did you tell Ray?’ I asked. ‘Of course,’ she shrugged. ‘Right, time for lunch. See you later.’ It was 11.30am! Lilly didn’t return until after 2pm. There was a long queue of customers. ‘Can you give me a hand?’ I begged, as she breezed into the office. ‘Sorry, I’ve got paperwork to do,’ she replied. I was furious.…