Fitness + Food = Fabulous!

For those of you who know me well – you will know that the Fitness element of this equation doesn’t really resonate with me.

I am not a natural athlete and have always had the fortune of not having to worry about it. Hence the teenage sleepovers where chocolate gateau featured in every meal and I could get away with ice cream for breakfast every now and then.

As I approach the impending W-Day and my 28^th birthday, I have come to realise that , without even noticing, that I do not have this luxury anymore.

I know that some people reading this will be surprised, so I shall enlighten you with a few fast facts:

-          Although I am not large, I put on 7 kilos in a few months without noticing.

-          At my heaviest I was 65kg.

-          I only noticed when I saw a photo of myself.

So, in a bid to overturn my life and create a long-term, sustainable healthy lifestyle – I joined a bootcamp.

Now I was always one of those people who would walk past a bootcamp (obviously in the evening as I am also not a natural morning person) and laugh at how silly everyone looked, how some of the girls were all dressed up in their best pink gear and why everyone there wasn’t fat?

Now I know. Bootcamp is not what you think it might be. It is not all full of fat people as I once mistakenly thought. It is not also full of pink gym gear (cue moi in a Primarni green tank top and $5 Big W shorts). But most importantly, it is not about paying someone to shout at you.

Whilst there is a market for these bootcamps, mine is about support. Everyone there – of various shapes, sizes, ages and backgrounds, are there for their own personal reasons. Reasons that are not shared, because essentially it doesn’t matter.

There is a mutual understanding and support for the tasks completed and the effort input. Everyone is at a very different fitness level, and everyone has very different motivations.

Motivation is important when you are waking up at 5am twice a week, in the dark, to walk 30 minutes to the bootcamp, an hour of intense working out, a half hour walk back and then get into the routine for work.

My motivation? A photo of myself on a beach in the Perhinthans in Malaysia – a moment in time when I felt my most free and beautiful. A moment I would love to feel again.

However 6 weeks in, I have noticed the dramatic changes.

-          I have become a morning person and started exercising a little most days a week

-          I have already lost 1.5kilos and maintaining a healthy weight

-          I have already lost cms around the middle

-          I have started the nutirion overhaul program to keep track of my food intake

Which leads me nicely onto my next topic – Food.

I live in Melbourne and I love food. It almost sounds like an AA confession!

Melbourne has some of the most fantastic food – from a real range of cultures and for all budgets. This is in addition to the amazing coffee that sustains the city and fuels the creativity.

So it is a tough challenge for me to be on the nutritional overhaul with my bootcamp. Essentially, it is keeping a food and exercise diary to establish healthy eating patterns, to gain nutritional advice and to assess how much and what you are eating.

It is fascinating as although I have always been extremely healthy in my adult life (the cake and ice cream for breakfast episodes were in my younger days) and I enjoy making healthy choices – it does help reign in any unnecessary snacking and unhealthy habits.

For example – all those work birthdays where there is always some kind of cake/biscuit/sugary treat – where I would always say yes and take a slice and inhale it before we have even began the celebratory signing. The unforeseen situations where food is offered and to have the will power to say no thank you.

It is actually making me rethink and have the strength to do so (full well knowing that come W-Day I am going to tuck into our glorious chocolate cake!) so I can transition into the Fabulous phase.

I am starting to feel much more fabulous than flabulous now that the wibbly bits have been wobbled away in strength and cardio training. The vision I have in my mind of myself being slim, toned and tanned in my hens and honeymoon pics are well on their way.

The trick is to keep it up in the cold winter Melbourne months which are shortly on their way. No big hidey flabby jumper for me this year! (That’s how a winters trip to Prague, New York and Christmas got out of hand before coming to Australia).

So I guess this is the positive impact that Australia is having on me. Whilst I coul do this anywhere, being in a country that is much more outdoor and fitness focused, it does makes you feel less silly and more inclusive. Plus I really wouldn’t get up on a winters day in London to go outside and crawl around on the ground doing push ups and burpees at 6am. Oh no siree.

Whilst all of this is a goal towards the wedding, they are also training for life-after-wedding as well. Shock, horror! A fitness plan for a newly wed! Usually its all about the wedding day and afterwards its all about the red wine and cheese on the sofa.

The wedding is a goal and the start of my new life as a wife. I will definitely relax more after the wedding and enjoy those wine and cheese nights, but maybe low-fat cheese and just a glass of wine will do the trick. 

Muchos love as ever xoxo

Ps - I couldn't upload my plant pics for the update but the chilli is going rather well!

Politics, parties, plants and planning.

A very happy and belated New Year to everyone!

As a part of my NY obligations I have promised myself to actually dedicate some time to write and continue the blog after lots of lovely feedback that people actually missed reading it - which is always lovely to hear.

I am aiming for once a week - unless I have anything particularly exciting to report! If this doesn't happen - feel free to poke, wink, kick me or whatever it is you do these days.

So. I guess the title of the post says it all for me at the moment.

As you may or may not be aware of, my current role is particularly relevant in the Australian political space at the moment - working with asylum seekers and refugees.

So this first P is the Politics.

There was breaking news this week about a 'violent riot' on Manus Island (an offshore detention centre in Papua New Guinea of which Australia is responsible for - in theory) of which asylum seekers - seeking asylum in Australia - were responsible for starting.

The day after I spent the day editing voicemail audio clips from 2 asylum seekers calling directly from Manus Island to tell the organisation that the local PNG people broke into the detention centre with machetes and started attacking the asylum seekers.

Why you may ask?

Because just like Australia, PNG doesn't want them either. Except Australia has dumped all their responsibility and tax-payer dollars onto PNG.

Yesterday was a particularly sad day at work due to the then breaking news that 77 people had been seriously injured and 1 person actually died whilst seeking Australian protection.

Hearing the truth and information directly from the ground is particularly saddening as despite the truth being spoken by people on the island, the government has scared even the most Left-wing media into keeping neutral and not exposing the truth. Hello ABC.

So whilst as a nation we might complain that our cafe latte was supposed to be a flat white or that the pubic transport situation is dire - we must remember that at least we have the freedom to experience these 'atrocities'.

Anyway, work rant over.

The next P is more fun. Parties!

This is more in reference to organising my Hen's party with my 7 amazing bridesmaids and 1 amazing groomslady!

So - just quietly - I am quite excited. Not because I want to wear penis paraphernalia, drink shots from a necklace and pass out on a beach Ibiza style - but because it is a great opportunity to spend a few days with some of the most fabulous women on the planet.

Being so far away from most of you is not easy at the best of times - and definitely not whilst planning a wedding (Gave away the last P!). But I know that you will all pull together to 'send me off in style' or whatever that really means anyways.

It means a lot to me that anyone would even put the effort in to help us get all of this off the ground - let alone the enthusiasm and grace that has been put into sourcing all sorts of quality information.

On a completely separate and 3rd P - Plants.

This may surprise everyone that reads this that might know me fairly well - I am now a Green Thumb.

Not only of my own labelling but fully endorsed by the future Mr Murphy. (Jokes - he wouldn't change it!)

I am pleased to announce that I am now the proud grower of:

- Chilli's
- Gardenias
- Marigolds (from the seed - oh yeah!)
- Jasmine
- Variety of succulents (in case all the others actually die)
- Mint
- Basil
- Spinach (possibly on the deathbed)
- Coriander (def on the deathbed but hoping for a resurrection)

So as you can see around 85% of current growth is probably nor dying or dead.

And the jasmine plant pleases me greatly as this is the scent of Asia where my love and I fell in love. Ain't that cute.

I can keep you regularly updated on this progress as this could change.

Final P - you guessed it - Planning.

So, yes, The English Rose is getting married. Abroad. Or quite abroad from where she currently resides anyway.

Now we are in the swing of 2014 - so is the planning.

We have got the major things locked in which is good, still need to lock in some entertainment, decor, bridal party outfits, rings, food, drinks, music etc etc.

Apparently there are a lot of elements to a wedding.
But I think I had my 'bridezilla' stressy moments last year when we went back to visit the family and start the planning.

I have since calmed down and 'let go' a bit more as I have realised that planning from the other side of the world can be tricky. But having amazing family and friends back at home makes it a whole world easier.

So today I read through our ceremony details and options - which is actually quite a defining moment. The ceremony is an aspect that is often forgotten or overshadowed by all the frills and stuff you can have to make your wedding day even more special.

Reading the options and the words that we will actually say to each other is quite eye opening. It makes you imagine the moment that you say these vows to each other and makes it feel more real. It also brings a smile to your face when you imagine saying and hearing these words.

More importance needs to be emphasised on the ceremony as this is the defining moment where you become united and the legal recognition of the vows taken.

As I think about the year ahead it is an extremely exciting time. The year will go quickly, as every one does, but this year shall mark the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter - being a wife and becoming Mrs Currie.

I hope to enjoy every minute of it and not take it for granted.

Well I hope I have satisfied my hungry readers for now.

More on life in Melbourne, plant updates and hopefully less of the politics.

I shall leave you all with a few more P's in my life right now.

Muchos love as ever xoxox

Placebo, Parma, Parsnip Crisps, Papercut and Possums.

This is 27.

So the last 6 weeks have flown by. Must be a sign of getting older.

But to get you up-to-speed - the last post spoke of quitting on my 2nd day of which I have definitely come to realise that i have made the right decision. Hurrah!

I now hold the eagerly awaited 'Manager' status for community fundraising and events at a non-profit organisation that operates direct services to those seeking asylum in Australia. A hot topic indeed.

It is astounding actually how much of an issue this is over here. With the minimal amount of people trying to claim asylum in comparison to the rest of the world - it is a joke. But one with a punch-line that can kill people if they are deported back to their home country. Or die trying to get here.

It's funny because when I sit in our large lunch room downstairs amongst all the staff, volunteers and asylum seeker members it doesn't feel like anyone is a threat to me, my way of life, my beliefs or the country that I now live in. But yet this is a view that is so often taken over here.

The view of many is the same view of the sensationalist mass-media which reflects the view of the current Government. The same view that Today Tonight and A Current Affair are keen to portray to keep their ratings (tabliod-esque sensationalist 'news' programs). I have hope in the fact that if more of the public had access to more information and less opinion, then they might actually be able to form one on their own.

Australia really is a country that often struggles to keep up with the rest of the Western world - gay marriage anyone?

An amazing piece of work that has been recently released by my organisation is this incredible documentary below - it is not a piece of propaganda - but a very fair, funny and heart-warming account of how real people are trying to educate, challenge and change negative perceptions on those seeking asylum.
(And it also features Imogen Bailey, Goyte and Hunters & Collectors!)

This is The Hot Potato: A Road To Transformation (Trailer)

See the full video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zixigIrO23A&feature=share&list=PLIyLjb7qxaQWqnCF_C2N4bFwsHcE_AKew

Anyway, enough of my political opinions for now. Back to being 27.

So this is a big year for me as I shall be married by the time I turn 28. I can't help but feel that this is a big turning year - not only for myself, but for a lot of people.

It is getting to that time where things start to become serious - friends getting engaged, people having babies - all the stuff you know is going to happen at some point, but you still kinda feel too young for it to be happening.

I have found out very recently that an very old friend of mine (who lives in a totally different part of the world) has just given birth to a baby girl. I remember the days we used to bake cakes and sell them to the neighbours and  wash people's cars to make a bit of money. Before the days when even our siblings weren't babies as they hadn't been born yet.

And I found out that another close friend of mine is expecting next year - so by the time I come home, they will already have a 5 month old baby. Crazy!

All of this I guess is escalated by the fact that we are trying to plan the wedding from afar away from family and friends in the UK and away from family in Oz. To be honest, it kind of makes me homesick to think about home and try to plan the most wonderful day when we can't event pop into the venue to ask them a question - or we have to wait up at night for the UK opening hours to give anyone a call.

I can't help but feel that the experience of getting married is completely different to how I thought it would be - not that I ever really thought about weddings - just that I didn't realise it would be so emotionally draining.

The hardest part is feeling like I am missing out on sharing the experience with my nearest and dearest. The best part is now we are working in Melbourne, we can actually afford the wedding!

So I guess this is 27. The turning point in realising real-life, making commitments, understanding what you want and accepting what you can't have. I guess they also call this "being a grown-up".

Much loves to all - I miss you all greatly xxxxx

What it feels like to quit your job on the 2nd day...

Today, my day started how I imagined it would be in my new role - get up and get ready, jump on the tram and fight for a seat, read the Guardian on my phone and await the moment I can get into the office to make myself a cup of coffee and quit my job on my second day.

Backtrack to the day before and I had a good first day. Like most first days it was all about inductions, introductions and information overload! So nothing really new there. I was taken out for lunch, joked with my fellow English colleagues (there are a few of us here!) and looked forward to getting to grips with my new role and responsibilities.

So when I received a phone call at 5.20pm whilst I was awaiting the tram home offering me another position, I had a dilemma on my hands.

Whilst for most people this might not seem to be too much of an issue, for me it felt bittersweet. Bittersweet because my colleagues were so lovely, they were genuinely happy to have me there, the working conditions were great and the pay was marginally better. So why leave?

Because the new position is a permanent managerial role for start. But mainly because the cause makes my blood boil at the injustice of the system here in Australia. Because it is an excellent opportunity to build and grow the fundraising team and implement my own campaigns and fundraising events.

But I felt so bad when I arrived at 8.30am and saw the look of surprise on my colleagues face at 8.35am when I told him the news and had to wait my our manager and the HR manager to arrive to further spread this news. They were very gracious about the episode, making me feel at ease with my decision and trying to make sure that I stopped apologising!

It is a real shame as I felt that I would have got along well within the team, but this other opportunity is one that I need to challenge myself and to really strive towards greatness to make the maximum impact and to actually change people's lives.

All the services are run on-site which is an excellent motivation to achieve all the goals that need to be met and to really make this position my own.

So now that I am back at home at 10.30am I shall give myself the day off from my 1 day at work.

A cup of tea, slice of chocolate peanut butter birthday cake and a crafty afternoon should ease my mind!

A big thank you to everyone who sent me birthday love via email, facebook, texts, birthday calls and Skypes, cards and pressies - it is great to know that I have the love and support of so many around me :)

I had a lovely day which began with a chocolate caramel slice in the shape of a 27 for birthday breakfast, opened some lovely gifts, had the flat decorated in balloons and streamers, had my favourite birthday Pho in Richmond and went to see the musical King Kong at the Regents Theatre which had its world premiere in Melbourne.

Check it out here:

http://kingkongliveonstage.com/

If it ever does travel the world - go and see it - its very technical and amazing - sexy and scary all in one!

And at the weekend I had a great time as Eloise and David made me a chocolate peanut butter birthday cake and bought me beautiful roses! We watched the AFL Grand Final (a religion down here) and headed out for delicious drinks and cocktails in Fitzroy with Brant and Ali (Ali is featured in my world travel blog as we became friends in Buenos Aires and she lives in Melbourne!).

And we had a great chance to catch up with Debs and Joel - good friends with the lovely Sarah and Macca and I met them at their Thailand wedding in 2011 - also featured in my travel blog.

So thank you to everyone - I have been spoilt yet again this year!

I shall keep you all updated with my other new job on Monday.

Have a great week to all, much loves as ever xxx

The only way is up!

A very good afternoon to all!

I hope you are all doing well :)

I am definitely having a positive day today-despite the dark clouds and torrential downpour we just experienced!

The only way is up.

Taking positivity out of all situations.

At the moment, we are both having a 'power week' with lots of interviews, meeting with recruiters and interest in us as potential employees and candidates.

Between us this week we are looking at 8  appointments with just as many last week and next week too. I secured 2 interviews and a meeting before breakfast time in my PJs this morning which is a very positive start!

For those who have experienced unemployment, they know the processes, energy, enthusiasm and motivation required to just get up and write the application. Let alone the sales skills, passion and drive to see through an interview, doused with endless lashings of hope, angst and uncertainty. With a sprinkle of confidence of course!

It is easy to fall into the 'unemployment pit of doom' after a while, with those dark days and endless wondering about different applications and when you'll hear back.

We have found that the Melbourne processes are extremely time consuming - with applications open for 4 weeks, with another week for processing, another 2-3  weeks for interviews and maybe another week for a decision, just  for good measure.

The key selection criteria is the killer. An essay on your specific history and employment examples demonstrating all skills ever experienced, ever. With a 250 word limit per section please.

It's definitely draining and a test if endurance. But I guess at least we are going through it together and supporting each other. And still haven't killed each other!

But the trick, as ever to remain positive, remain active and healthy (weather permitting) and to read the book you never have time for, enjoy cooking those meals that always take too long, take up those creative projects at the back of your mind and use it as an opportunity.

Cue my latest lol project-a vintage/retro (buzzword alert!) peg holder with a vintage twine hanger.

What a whizz I'm becoming on the sewing machine!

But in the meantime, we have bought a ticket for this weeks Power ball Lottery and if anyone does have a job in mind, let me know- haha!

Much loves as ever and a MASSIVE HAPPY BIRTHDAY FOR YESTERDAY TO MY NOT-SO-LIL BRO ADAM!!! 

T-minus 8 days till the Roses' birthday too! Xxx

Friday 13th, unlucky for some...

But not for me! ( 2 hours left so hopefully not)

Huzzah for Friday! Not that it makes much difference to the unemployed. Everyday could be Friday! Or Monday. Depending on how you're feeling.

So a quick summary-the house is all lovely and set up and we are super happy to be in such a great area!

On the job front, I have applied fair around 10 jobs and heard back from 7 of them, had 4 interviews with another on Tuesday-so still hoping that one will turn into a position. Fingers crossed for me people!

Super-Dave is on a roll with the interviews and meeting with recruiters so fingers crossed he's on the employment path too!

So enough of that. That's where we are at.

In other news, those who know me well also know that I have developed a strange fascination and ever growing collection of fridge magnets. Weird, I know.

I think it partly started with the really old fridge that we acquired from the Curries and I think I just wanted to make it pretty.

And then it started to become an obsession. I can't go to a tourist attraction or go into a gift shop without buying one.

Annoyingly this obsession started after my epic round the world trip. What a list opportunity!

And beloved friends of ours have started to add to our collection, thinking of us on their own trips which is very lovely- and exciting for this obsessive magnet collector.

So here's a selection if some of my faves. ( with my impending day of birth coming up, please feel free to forward magnets my way! )

The epic €3 euro delight from Seville airport spending our last coins. I love it because its so tacky it's actually cool.

 The latest edition from our GC-MEL drive- stopping off at the Big Banana. It's just plain funny.

"Mahalo Lucy!"- our lovey Hawaiian edition from Eloise and Brants Honeymoon. Reminds me of Eloise and her love for 50 First Dates.

A simple, Eco-friendly fridge magnet from our first ever big family holiday this year!

Whilst we weren't in the UK at the time, we picked up this beautiful lil momentous of a historical day.

Creepy yet must-have magnet from the Catedral de Seville in Spain. 

Beautiful ornate magnet from the Queen Vic Markets on my first ever trip to Melbourne.  

David's favourite bird- the Kookaburra from our day trip to Currumbin Wildlife Centre with Kristy. Sitting next to a lil lighthouse from the Herne Bay museum at home.

Sweet Dutch kisses from Davs on his mini Euro trip.

              Functional and English.

12 years since September 11th. How time flies. From our amazing NY food fest in 2011.

 Finally, the long-awaited Barcelona from Laura, James, Jo and Jesus on their trip about a million years ago.

So, as you can see, my weird obsession has stories and many fond memories.

I encourage you to all get on board and go buy a magnet!

Have a lovely weekend all- we have a day trip out to the Dandenong Ranges before the Gangsters Ball for a night of dressing up, swing dancing, cocktails, gambling and feeling fabulous as our engagement gift from the wonderful Laura, James, Jo, Tess, Jesus and Charlie. Can't wait!

Oh and a Mexican food fest on Sunday, super yum!

Buenos Noches and muchos love xxx

 

Tonight is the night.

That most likely the political landscape will change with today being Election Day!

Now, as a 'foreigner' to this great country, I am not allowed to vote. However, now I live in this great country, I am allowed to have an opinion.

So here is Heather's rundown to the 2013 Australian Election:

The main showdown is between Kevin Rudd and the Australian Labor Party (ALP)...

And Tony Abbott and the Liberal National  Party (LNP)...

And unfortunately Tony is the leading man in the first counts of today's voting.

He had come up with some crackers in the last few weeks of the campaigning:

- Implying that Gay Marriage is a 'fashion trend of the moment'

- Commenting on the 'sex appeal' of a female member of his party (as a strength  of her position)

- Commenting on the attractiveness of his daughters as a reason to remember him and vote for him...said daughters below:

And other party members of his have come out with these amazing tit-bits:

- Explaining the plan to stop the boats:

Check it out - http://youtu.be/V2NDewpz1mY

- Fiona Scott's cracker stating that the congestion on the roads of her electorate are  'due to the excess asylum seekers' that have come in as Boat People. ( Boat People is a socially acceptable term for Asylum  Seekers who arrive by boat. This term is used in the news. Amazingly.)

But we also have a few other characters and parties to vote for:

Bob Katter: Face like an old orange leather shoe, fights for farmers and rural Aussie issues.

Clive Palmer: Billionaire Mining Magnet (not his words apparently), wants to run Australia as well as his businesses, a dinosaur golf course and whilst rebuilding the Titanic. Aka - Titanic 2. No jokes.

 

( oh and he remains on top of QLDs rich list despite losing over $1bn in a year)

And then we have parties like this:

http://pirateparty.org.au/

May or may not consist of pirates. I haven't bothered to look into it.

So it's a very interesting time.

The main difference between politics here and in the UK is the excessive, slanderous advertising campaigns. 

(And compulsory voting with a fine if you don't and don't declare a good reason before polling day.)

Literally the advertising is ALL negative slagging off about the other parties- you don't really hear about what the parties all stand for. 

They don't really credit the public with the intelligence to understand their policies and base it off meaningless ads.

Oh and of course this: 

The good old sausage sizzle. An institution in Australia and an accompaniment to the election.

You can find the best voting station sausage sizzles in your state, here:

 http://www.electionsausagesizzle.com.au/

Yes. It is real. And a real big deal.

Bigger than the election for some people.

And as we finish Kevin Rudd concedes his 

place as Prime Minister and has to make that 

awkward call to Abbott. What would you say 

in that situation?

So that, in a nutshell, is what I have learnt 

about Aussie politics.

A new Liberal (conservative) government 

should be an interesting one!  

Nighty night to all (or have a lovely Saturday 

if you are in the UK).

And a happy birthday to my stepdad Adam!

Much loves xxx