Table of contents for Issue 46, 2024 in that's life!

Well, it’s no secret that the that’s life! team are a bunch of animal lovers. It’s a treat to share your pet photos every week on It’s Your Life (page 4) and we loved going through all the incredible entries you sent in for our Pawsome Pet competition. Thank you to everyone who entered. What amazing animals so many of you have in your lives. It was clear just how much our furry, feathered and other friends – we had a much-loved frog among our entries – can be a source of strength and support in tough times, in a way that only big-hearted animals can. It was so hard to pick just one winner, but our deserving pet and her owner, and the winner of the $3000 prize, are…

Amanda Canales was eating nachos with her friend Ari when a man sat down beside her. It was 2007 and the tall dark stranger introduced himself as Kevin Lewis. He said he’d like to get to know Amanda better and, as he flirted and smiled, Amanda became intrigued. The following week, she bumped into Kevin while out shopping. ‘It was meant to be,’ he’d smiled, Amanda said in the Netflix documentary series Worst Ex Ever. The pair began dating, and Amanda introduced Kevin to her brother Mannie and her sister Alisha, who was nicknamed Punky. Mannie immediately clicked with the ex-military man. But Alisha was not so sure, finding Kevin arrogant. It didn’t deter Amanda though. By now she had fallen head over heels. That August they moved in together.…

Sipping on a cuppa, I listened intently as the young woman opposite me explained how she was coping with the loss of her loved one. ‘The pain never goes away, but it’s become easier to live with over time,’ she said. I knew the feeling well, having lost my sister Amelia when I was six. Aged three, she tragically drowned in a pool on my brother David’s fourth birthday. The impact it had on my parents, John and Mavis, was soul-destroying. Unable to deal with the heart-wrenching loss, they didn’t talk about Amelia’s death or allow themselves to grieve. Instead, they packed up her clothes and toys and took down all photos… it was as though Amelia had never existed. My brother and I didn’t even go to her funeral.…

VEGETABLE AND RICE QUICHE SERVES 2 PREP & COOK: 1 HOUR 10 MINS ⅔ cup long-grain rice ¾ cup grated tasty cheese 1 egg yolk Tomato relish, to serve FILLING 1 bunch rocket, trimmed ½ cup light thickened cooking cream 2 eggs ½ cup ricotta cheese ¼ cup grated tasty cheese 180g tub antipasto mix, drained 1 Grease a rectangular ovenproof dish (5-cup capacity). 2 Cook rice according to absorption method following directions on packet. Place in a large bowl. Cool slightly. 3 Add cheese and egg yolk to rice. Season with salt and pepper. Mix well. Spoon into prepared dish. Using the back of a greased spoon, press rice mixture over base and up the sides. 4 Cook in a moderate oven (180°C) for about 20 minutes, or…

SEND US YOUR CLEVER IDEAS When I go on holidays, I put a dish of rock salt in my washing machine to help prevent bad smells. Annabel Ritchie, Townsville, Qld A rubber glove with a leak can still be useful – cut it into thick rubber bands. Ellie Brown, Kempsey, NSW Before I make an impulse buy, I calculate how many work hours it’d take to pay for it. This usually stops me buying anything I don’t need. Mel Catter, Albany, WA When sauce is stuck in a bottle, insert a straw. It allows air in and help the sauce to flow. Craig Wilson, Gawler South, SA I turned an old fish tank into a lovely terrarium. My cacti grow beautifully. Jane Weaver, Melbourne, Vic Sprinkle flour around the rim…

Weaving his arms around his fiancée for one last embrace, 24-year-old José Luis ‘Coche’ Inciarte said his goodbyes before heading to passport control. Looking over the balcony in Carrasco Airport in Uruguay, he watched Soledad wave him off. Coche and 18 other members of the Old Christians rugby club were incredibly excited to be flying to Chile to represent their country. Team captain Marcelo Pérez had chartered a plane to take them, along with 26 friends and family, to Santiago. Bad weather grounded the team overnight in Argentina, before they reboarded Uruguay Air Force Flight 571 at about 2pm on October 13, 1972. Coche had hoped to sit next to his best friend, Gastón Costemalle, in the tail section, but had to take a seat further up. An hour later,…

DID YOU KNOW? If you struggle to remember things, it could be a sign you need more shuteye! Poor sleep can affect an area of the brain known as the hippocampus, which is responsible for forming new memories. HELP FOR HOARDERS Hoarding disorder affects around 2.5 per cent of adults. However researchers at UNSW are trialling a promising treatment known as imagery rescripting. Participants in a study were asked to visualise positive outcomes of discarding objects. Those who engaged in the treatment were happier, more motivated and more likely to throw out their items. 45 This per cent of adults snore occasionally, while 25 per cent do so regularly. While a small amount of snuffling usually isn’t cause for concern, loud or frequent snoring can be a sign of sleep…

EDITORIAL Editorial Director Kate Kirsten, Editor Sarah Firth, Deputy Editor Beth Young, Art Director Darren Monaghan, Picture Editor Holly Campbell ARE MEDIA Chief Executive Officer Jane Huxley, Director of Sales Andrew Cook, Director of Content Sally Eagle, General Manager Entertainment Susan Armstrong, Commercial Brand Manager Jessica Ashworth, Head of Consumer Marketing Louise Cankett 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. that’s life! is a registered trade mark of Are Media. Use of trademark strictly prohibited. Licensing Inquiries:…

Aries Mar 21 – Apr 20 It’s not your style to spiral when things become intense, Aries. You’re more inclined to want to cut and run. Find a happy medium with your special person or a work colleague. A new activity is a health-booster. LUCKY NUMBERS 3, 9, 11 Taurus Apr 21 – May 21 It’s a top-shelf Taurean treat! An opportunity to fix the financial books, cater for those hungry mouths, or design a delightful garden arises. You have so much in common with a newcomer – so step up if single. LUCKY NUMBERS 22, 40, 42 Gemini May 22 – Jun 21 Restoring relationship satisfaction, domestic happiness or work fulfilment is courtesy of the personal shifts you’ve made over the months. That monetary mess is cleared up,…

Julieanne Boyle has been to hell and back. Now she wants to help others Julieanne Boyle, 5f2 Dressing up my Barbie dolls, I loved playing make believe. I wish I could grow my hair long, I thought, brushing their beautiful blonde tresses. But there was no way my father, William, then 44, would allow it. Then just six, I was the youngest of four siblings, and Dad ruled our household with an iron fist. He’d stand at the bottom of the stairs, whistle through his teeth and we’d all came running, like the Von Trapp family. Our neighbours thought he was great. They’d come around asking for help with things like a broken washing machine, and Dad always said it was no bother. But once the door closed he’d…

NO-BAKE RASPBERRY BISCOFF CAKE SERVES 8 PREP: 20 MINS 250g block cream cheese, chopped ⅓ cup icing sugar mixture 2 tsps vanilla extract 2 cups thickened cream 250g packet Biscoff biscuits 125g punnet raspberries, plus extra to serve ⅓ cup Smooth Biscoff spread, plus extra to drizzle 1 Lightly grease a 12cm x 22cm small loaf pan (6-cup capacity). Line base and sides with baking paper, extending paper 5cm over pan edges. 2 Beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla in small bowl of an electric mixer until smooth. Add cream. Beat until combined and firm peaks form. 3 To assemble, spread a quarter of cream mixture over base of prepared pan. Top with a layer of biscuits, trimming to fit. Sprinkle with one-third of the raspberries. Spoon over heaped…

Reading through our dog Buddy’s recent vet bill was shocking. ‘The tablets for his skin allergies are $5.44 each, and the pain tablets for his arthritis are $6.95 each – and he needs two of those a day. That’s over $135 a week on medication for a 5-kilo poodle!’ I gasped. We love Buddy and he’s an important part of our family, but these are expenses I didn’t consider when we adopted him 13 years ago. According to research by the Commonwealth Bank, the average dog costs their owners around $4247 a year and cats cost $2718. Here are a few cost-cutting tips. EVERYDAY WELLNESS When it comes to pet health, prevention is cheaper than cure. Research your pet’s nutritional and exercise needs, and their breed’s predisposition to any health…

Clara Furniss, 23 As the motorbikes zoomed across the finishing line, the buzzing crowd cheered from the stands. All summer, me and my boyfriend, *Sam, 41, had been working at festivals and sporting competitions. We’d been dating for two years and loved the fast-paced energy of the different events. That weekend, in August 2023, we’d been stewards at a motorcycle Grand Prix. After a gruelling 16-hour shift, I was truly exhausted and we headed to bed at the adjoining campsite. As soon as my head hit the pillow, I fell into a deep sleep. But two hours later, I woke up with an awful back ache. Maybe it’s another kidney infection, I thought. I’d had them in the past, and these symptoms were similar. Having no painkillers with me,…

Q A while ago, I was experiencing a lot of tummy pain and my doctor suggested I have a scan. My symptoms settled after a few weeks and I had all but forgotten about it until my scan appointment came around. I decided to go anyway, and the results show I have a gallstone. My GP is suggesting I might need to have my gallbladder removed. Is this advisable? A As you have gone so long without any symptoms, it would make sense to adopt a ‘wait and see’ approach to this. The longer you go without suffering symptoms, the less likely you are to have a flare-up. However, if you develop recurrent bouts of abdominal pain, removing the gallbladder is usually done by keyhole surgery, and most people do…

The mark on my girl’s face was more than meets the eye Cassandra Wright, 33, Sydney, NSW My husband Luke, then 30, ran through the sprinkler with our four-month-old daughter, Amity, in his arms. It was March 2019 and Amity loved the water, so any chance we got we took her swimming or let her play in the bathtub. Drying her face, I noticed a small red spot on Amity’s upper left cheek. ‘Is that a birthmark?’ I asked Luke, who agreed. But as a second and third spot developed over the next six months, we grew concerned and took her to the GP in October. ‘Is she in pain or itchy?’ the GP asked. It didn’t seem like the spots bothered her, but the doctor referred us to a…

WITH PSYCHIC MEDIUM Michelle De Angelis Whether it’s lounging on a beach, exploring a busy city, or hiking through serene mountains, your ideal holiday is within reach – thanks to the power of manifestation. Manifesting isn’t magic, it’s a combination of focused energy, intention, and action. Here’s how you can turn your dream getaway into a reality using simple techniques. Be clear Visualise your perfect holiday in detail. Where are you? What do you see, hear and feel? Imagine the soft sand beneath your feet, the sound of waves crashing, or the buzz of a lively market in a faraway city. Using a fresh piece of paper or a notebook, write down every detail. Include the destination, the weather, the activities, the food and even the people you’re with. The…

A big thank you to everyone who entered our Pawsome Pet competition. It was so hard choosing from all your wonderful furry, feathered and scaly friends! The $3000 0 prize goes to Daisy, who comforted her owner Debora after a devastating diagnosis Debora Rasmussen, 69, Ballarat, Vic Snuggled up on the couch with my hubby Steve, then age 71, and my labradoodle pup, Daisy, she rested her head on my feet. ‘I’m so lucky to have you,’ I smiled at her. I’d had pets all my life, but after the agony of losing our labrador Jenna to cancer 10 years before, it’d taken time to heal. Our nine children, Ben, then 44, Emily, 40, Jonas, 40, Tim, 38, Rebecca, 37, Jesse, 34, Amelia, 32, Bea, 30, and Isaac, 19, had…

CHICKEN TACOS WITH SWEET CORN SALSA MAKES 8 PREP & COOK: 35 MINS 8 small white corn tortillas 1 small red onion, thinly sliced 2½ cups shredded roast chicken meat 35g sachet crispy chicken spice mix Lime wedges, to serve SWEET CORN SALSA 3 corn cobs 1 small red capsicum, chopped ½ cup finely grated parmesan ½ cup chopped fresh coriander leaves, plus extra to garnish ¼ cup chipotle aioli 1 tblsp lime juice 1 To make salsa, heat an oiled grill plate over a medium to high heat. Add corn. Cook, turning occasionally, for 10 to 15 minutes, or until charred. Remove. Cool slightly. Cut kernels from cob and place in a large bowl. Add remaining ingredients. Season. Mix well. 2 Cook tortillas in a heated, large,…

CARAMEL AND CHOCOLATE ICE-CREAM BISCUIT LOG SERVES 8 PREP: 30 MINS 2 x 114g packets chocolate finger biscuits ½ x 2 litre tub hokey pokey ice-cream ¼ cup caramel spread 1 litre tub chocolate ice-cream Extra warmed caramel spread, to serve 1 Grease a large, straight-sided, 15cm x 23.5cm x 9cm deep loaf pan. Line base and long sides with baking paper, extending paper 5cm above pan edges. 2 Arrange 17 biscuits, crossways, over base of prepared pan. 3 Spoon hokey pokey ice-cream into a large bowl. Stir until smooth. Spoon over biscuits in pan. Smooth over top. Drizzle caramel spread over the ice-cream. Arrange 17 of the remaining biscuits over the top. Cover and freeze for 1 hour. 4 Coarsely chop remaining biscuits. Spoon chocolate ice-cream into a…

Leigh helps kids know what to do in a crisis Thank you Leigh Mason, Brisbane, Qld Watching the students hang off every word my friend Trent ‘Maxi’ Maxwell said, I couldn’t help feeling proud. We were at the tiny Teelba State School in outback Queensland and the kids were participating in our workshop on water and fire safety, and CPR. ‘I want you all to go home tonight and talk to your families about smoke alarms and having a plan on how to get out, and where to go if there’s a fire in your house,’ Maxi said to the children. After our tour, we heard that three families were prompted by their kids to install smoke alarms. It was music to our ears. I met Maxi, famous for…

Q After my business went bankrupt a couple of years ago, I had a breakdown and was prescribed fluoxetine. I’m now back on my feet financially – so much so I’m looking into laser treatment to remove unwanted facial hair, which I know will make me feel even better. But my therapist wasn’t keen to treat me while I’m on fluoxetine. Should I stop taking it? A Fluoxetine can cause you to be overly sensitive to light. In an ideal world, your therapist would probably like you to be off this medication for four weeks before treating you. Your GP may well be happy for you to wean off your medication, so call for an appointment to discuss it with them. FUTURE PUBLISHING LTD…