Burgers & Beetroot

Once upon a time my dear sweet Tim lost 65 pounds.  Now 3, or is it 4 years later, he has kept the weight off.  It’s not a miracle, it’s not that difficult.  We just changed our lifestyle and I made a vow to start cooking and stop with the take-out and “easy” meals.  A bit of educating and planning for me and it’s as easy as that.  How we did it is for another time.  For now, I’ll reflect on Tim’s out of the blue burger obsession.
As mentioned, Tim moved to Australia at the end of October 2011.  His first visit back to the States was two months later at Christmas time.  During Tim’s two months away, I believe that he forgot that we don’t eat traditional American burgers anymore.  If ground meat is used at all it’s in the form of lamb or turkey and definitely won’t be served on the traditional American bun.   Tim has been fine with this, has never really asked for or sought out burgers as we know them.  Maybe 3 or 4 times in the years since he lost his weight he’s eaten a cheeseburger or hotdog?  Who knows?  Anyway the point being is that he returns to Indiana after being away for two months and tells me he just can’t find a good burger in Australia, that the meat is weird, and they all come with beetroot on them.  He tells me that before he returns to Australia he’d really like to have a good burger. 

At this point I have to tell you that being apart for weeks at a time if you’ve only ever been apart for the most, 5 days over the past 15 years, does something to you.  Our visit was so perfect.  We were so nice to each other.  Not that we were mean to each other before but we definitely had taken each other for granted at times.  So when Tim mentioned burger, all I could think of is that we have to get this man a burger.  I did not question or nag him about how far he’d come with his health gains or in any way make him feel bad about wanting to waste everything he’d worked for over a lousy burger.  It did not even occur to me to go into the nagging wife mode.  I genuinely, unconditionally, just wanted him to be happy.  So he chose 5 Guys for lunch one day and that was that. 

Or was it?  I arrived in February only to discover that his quest for the good Australian burger had not ended.  So after a while, with a bit of humor and gentleness, I had to ask.  Tim, do you think the good burger exists in Australia and do you remember not really ever craving them until you left American soil?  Of course this question was asked as he swallowed a bite of another disappointing burger.  What better timing.  I did see a light bulb go off.  Yeah, this was just Tim’s way of working in a little bit of bad eating every now and then, no matter how bad.

In writing about Australian burgers I mean no disrespect to the cooks here in Australia.  I’m sure our Australian friends who visit America will come across the same thing.  It’s not the burger you’re born with and I doubt they’ll find any with beetroot.  In Australia, much of what they call burgers here would be called sandwiches in America.  For instance, a fish filet or chicken breast served on a bun would be referred to as a fish sandwich or chicken sandwich.  Here in Australia it would be called a fish or chicken burger, even though the meat isn’t ground.  Tim once ordered a steak burger, which in America would be a higher grade of ground beef, formed into a patty, and served on a bun.  He received a slab of steak between two pieces of thick toasted bread.  Hmmm.  Didn’t taste bad, but not what we’d pictured.  So my next question is, in Australia, what is a sandwich and what is a burger? 

By the way, anyone interested in how we’ve stayed healthy read

Ultrametabolism: A Simple Plan for Automatic Weightloss by Dr. Mark Hyman.  Great read even if you don't need to lose weight but just want to feel better.

Check out the Ultrametabolism Cookbook for some fabulous recipes as well. 

Go Buffi! Project Runway Season 10

Ahhh. TV!  I do love to watch tv.  Not everything, but I am passionate about certain shows.  I knew that I would desperately miss my shows even with all of the new and exciting adventures our new life in Australia has to offer.  I’ve gotta have a little home sometimes.  Some of our American TV is popular here, but not everything.  Not Project Runway, a show that had me hooked season 1.  I had no idea when I would get to view season 10 and season 10 is the most special seasons of all.  Why?  Because I know one of the contestants.  How cool is that?  How much more exciting can a person’s favorite show be if you actually know, like and care about a contestant on a personal level?  I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Buffi Jashanmal on two different occasions about 6 or 7 years ago.  Once over a Thanksgiving weekend and the other at my sister’s wedding.  She’s my sister’s husband’s cousin.  Cousin-in-law?  Anyway, I can say nothing but good things about this lovely lady.  She’s kind, fun, outgoing and wow did she wear some exciting clothes.  Think bold pink lace skirt with hacked off panty hose to the mall.  Nothing I would ever imagine in my Gap Banana Republic world.  To say the least, I knew she had something special going on.

            So as the years went on I’d watch Project Runway loyally every season, and from time to time I’d think about how awesome it would be to see Buffi on the show.  My sister would keep me posted on Buffi’s highs and lows in life and in fashion, and as time passed I began to see a maturing trend in Buffi.  So we all know how this ends.  A huge dream for Buffi came true which made a little dream of mine come true.  So until we cross paths again, I wish Buffi all the best in this huge success of hers.  So proud of her!

            Oh, and thanks to the magic of Slingbox, I get to keep up on all of my American TV here in Australia.  Yes!

Highs and Lows

So as I’ve said, we made our decision and the four of us are now happily residing in the state of Western Australia.  After the initial phone call in April, 6 months and one trip for Tim to Australia passed before Tim moved over permanently.  He left October 25 and arrived on the 27^th missing his birthday on the 26^th.  I had to stay behind because the girls, as we affectionately refer to our dogs, still had several weeks of quarantine to be done state side before they could make the move.  Those 6 months of waiting were some of the most stressful months.  There would be phone call interviews at strange times, then we wouldn’t hear anything for a while.  Then when we came to accept the fact that we probably wouldn’t be going, another phone call or email would come.  So it was an emotional rollercoaster with lots of sleepless nights.  Well, until we go our Ambien refilled. 
Ok, so when do I get to see my new country?  I was able to take some time off work at the end of November to visit and put the wifely stamp of approval on our decision to move.  I flew into Brisbane and made my way to the domestic terminal and much to my surprise there were what looked to be rednecks everywhere.  Rednecks with Australian accents?  What is this?  Waiting for my flight to Perth I had the opportunity to do some people watching.  I don’t know what I expected.  I think that an Australian or English accent for some reason implies culture to me.  People that are a notch above on the sophistication scale.  The people I saw were kind of dirty and unkempt with outdated hairstyles.  And then there was the other extreme.  Tatted up, facially pierced young girls with horribly done hair extensions in neon pinks, greens and blues.  Geez.  I don’t have to worry about what I packed.  Anything I’ve owned within the past 20 years will be just fine.  The men were wearing neon greenish yellowish suits with silver reflectors on them and serious work boots.  And then it hit me.  The mining boom in Western Australia.  Yeah, alright.  I’m in a rugged place.  The place that will become our livelihood.  I tell myself to get over it and to quit being such a snob. 

My Two Week Visit

Tim greets me at the airport in Perth and he just looks so good to me.  Smiling ear to ear, he’s excited to show me around, tell me all about our new homeland, and all in all is just happy.  He takes me home the scenic route and is telling me all about everything the entire way home.  It’s funny because generally speaking, Tim is a man of few words.  I’m experiencing serious jetlag, so I’m fading in and out but catching most of what he’s saying.  We arrive at our home, a gorgeous 3 level apartment on the canals in the marina section of Mandurah, the town we’ve chosen for home.  The two weeks fly by with lots of site seeing, walks, and just spending time together.  We make it up to Perth a couple or so times and I must say it is one of the most beautiful cities I’ve seen.  It sits on the Swan River which is not like the rivers I’m used to.  I grew up along the banks of the muddy Ohio River so that’s what river means to me.  The Swan is, well, I believe this calls for a picture:

Mandurah is also a beautiful little town located on the Indian Ocean, and I enjoyed my time here very much although I wouldn’t be honest if I didn’t say I experienced some doubts during my stay.  I remember getting a really bad case of the blues.  During this down state Tim asked on one of our evening walks how I was liking it, and all I could muster was a quiet little, “It’s ok.”  I didn’t understand myself.  Why wasn’t I excited?  I wanted to talk to my family back in the states, but I was reluctant because I didn’t want to sound like a bag of downers.  I did finally call my sister and explain to her what was going on and how I didn’t understand why I was feeling this way and so on.  Oh but she did.  She piped right up and said in an upbeat tone, “Oh that’s the jet lag!  In a couple of days you’ll be fine.  I go through this myself every year when we travel to Turkey.”  Wow!  What a relief!  It’s going to get better.  She kindly explained to me that jet lag at this level is more than just being tired and trying to catch up on sleep.  It throws off your entire equilibrium.  You’re eating and sleeping at different times and everything else your body is scheduled to do at certain times if you get my drift. So you aren’t feeling well, and then there’s the anxiety involved with leaving everything behind and starting a new life in a new country.  But she was right.  It took about 3 or 4 days if I remember correctly.  Then back to my normal self.  As I’ve said, the two weeks went quickly.  I arrived back in the United States carried on with the final three weeks of my job and waited for Tim to arrive on Christmas Eve.

Rapid Fire What Abouts

We’re going back in time today to April of 2011 when we received the phone call proposing the idea of moving to Australia.  So many things go through your head at this notion.  It’s overwhelming.  The thoughts are like shots being fired off from inside your brain and you can’t keep up with the rapid fire.  First one, as I’ve already mentioned, was what about the dogs.  Then what about little Allison, what about Ashlyn, what will my parents think, is this really selfish of us, what about our brand new spa bathroom that I’d wanted for the past eight years and finally got.  What about what about what about?  Oh and Merfe’s pregnant with my new little nephew.  Can we do this?  Tim’s mom is 86.  And my much-younger-than-86 Dad's reached the age where he worries that he's going to die tomorrow or someday soon. Can we just leave?  What do we do with our home?  Our cars?  Oh, and what about Notre Dame?  We’re season ticket holders and driving up to South Bend, Indiana from our home in Newburgh during the fall months is one of our greatest joys.  So we have all of these what abouts and at the same time the sheer excitement of moving to Australia.  Yeah, Australia!  I’ve never met anyone who didn’t want to visit Australia.  How could I not want to move there? Well, I’ll tell you.  It’s far.  It’s far from everything I know and love.  Really far, not California far.  In fact, one of the rapid fire thoughts was why couldn’t this job be in California.  So much easier.  But at the same time, in the midst of so much doubt, I’m completely torn because deep down inside I want to do this and so does Tim.

Gaga for Gaga

LADY GAGA – Had the honor of attending Lady Gaga’s Perth concert. If I was a reviewer I’d have to give her the full 5 stars. I will also say it was hands down the loudest concert I’ve ever been to, almost painful at some points. I loved it though. The stage set up, the incredible dancers, songs…all good. To me though the best concert I’ve ever seen was Coldplay’s Viva La Vida tour. The Gaga theatrics weren’t there, and shouldn’t be at a Coldplay show, but I connect with Coldplay’s music on a whole different level than Gaga’s pop genre. I do love that Lady Gaga has a dark, gritty, sensual side to her music that sets her apart from other pop singers. Also loved the way she speaks to the audience and connects with them. I found her interesting and not annoying at all when she stopped for a little chat break at her piano in between songs. I’ve seen performers do this before and you just want to scream “Get on with it! I paid to hear you sing not talk!” Not Gaga. Really could have listened to her talk more, but she was cognizant of why we were there and continued on with the awesomeness that she brought with her.

Where do I begin?

So I’ve wanted to start a blog but feel almost a bit shy when thinking about publishing my experiences and thoughts to the world.  But then I think that sharing this information may be helpful if not entertaining to other people.  The primary purpose is to keep a record of my big move to Australia and all of the things that go along with that.  I think it would also be good to write about other interests and life experiences that branch out from Australia.

It’s June 18, 2012 today.  I arrived in Perth, Western Australia February 21, 2012.  I’ve been here 4 months so it’s time to start writing.  I need to go back and forth a bit but for now I’ll just explain why I’m here.  My name is Christine Heller married to Tim Heller for 15 years as of this August.  We have lived in Newburgh, Indiana for the past 14 or so years and were both raised in the area.  So one Sunday night after dinner we were lounging about watching television when the phone rang.  Tim answered, I heard him talking to someone but couldn’t figure out who it was.  When he hung up he walked into the living room and explained that the person on the phone was from his company and wanted to know if he’d like to take a position in Australia.  Oh wow!  Uh, yeah!  Oh but wait.  Can we take our dogs?  I immediately started googling because I’ve heard of quarantine periods being up to 6 months long which would completely be a deal breaker.  However, for Australia it was only one month once they arrived and we could visit them up to 3 times per week.  Not ideal, but doable.  So the phone call came in April of 2011.  We made the decision to look further into it since our pups could join us and here we are today.  Dogs survived the flight over and did well at the quarantine facility. Now we’re all here living in Halls Head, Western Australia and enjoying our life here.