Dim sum in Northbridge

Dim sum in Northbridge's Golden Palace, taken on my iphone. 

Last weekend, for my birthday, Jace took me out for some dim sum in Northbridge, just north of the Perth CBD. We went to a place called the Golden Palace, and we were warned to come early as there are usually lines of hungry diners at opening. We thought it would be impossible for the two story dim sum joint to be packed just minutes after opening, but to my disbelief, we got the very last table by the kitchen door at 10:40 am (they open at 10:30!).

As soon as we sat down, the mayhem began - carts whizzing by with stacks of bamboo steamer goodness, waiters pouring tea and clearing empty plates, and the drone of table numbers being called as those in the rapidly expanding waiting line got called to their tables.

I love dim sum, so this was all a feast before the feast for me. Then the fast grab began, as you pick out items that come by on the cart, the steamer is then placed on the soon filled table, and as the woman simultaneously scratches on your card what you will soon consume.

There was so much to choose from, and being by the kitchen we got first pick as the carts rolled by. We ended up sharing about 7 baskets of goodness, things like sweet pork steamed buns, prawn dumplings, sticky rice, spring rolls, pork dumplings with roe, and crispy fried prawns - not to mention a few pots of Chinese tea and some sweet almond buns to finish it all off.

All together it cost us $45, and we were so stuffed that we hardly ate dinner that night. It was really fun and I am keen to go again soon as there were heaps of other dishes I am dying to try! I'd highly recommend it for a different and delicious brunch in the city.
- Posted from my iPhone

Life with a dog.

If you've read this blog before... you've probably seen a few (ok make that a few hundred) photos of my dog. I guess at one time it got so bad that some of my most treasured, long time readers decided to unsubscribe from my blog's email updates... Yeah, I get those alerts. I'm not bitter... ok, so I am bitter. But I understand... but let me just explain my latest puppy maddness and perhaps you'll understand....

You see, I've never really owned a dog. We had a few when I was a wee spring chicken, younger than 5 I'd say - a lovely dalmation that I remember riding around the back yard and then a big fluffy Dulux type dog. Since then we had cats and horses and rabbits and bears (oh my - just kidding), but no more dogs. So when Jace longed to have a dog, since he's had one in the family his whole life, I was onboard from the start. However, you can't travel the world and take your pets with you - so we compromised, and when we came back to Perth 7 months ago, we got a new member of our family, Sascha, and I am so glad we did.

It seems like just yesterday we brought her home, but I know that's not the case as we've been through a lot already - the incessant whining in the first few early days, puppy school madness, obedience classes, the operation which she still bears scars from with a big bald patch on her belly which is slowly growing back... not to mention the countless toys that are now in toy heaven... boy does that dog love to chew. And let's not recall the horror of the dozens of plants she's dug out of my garden just hours after I lovingly planted them... I'm still sore about that, Dog!

But really, all it take is one look... and I can't be angry for long. I mean, could you be mad at this dog very long? Look at those big brown eyes....

Sascha with the rubber bone I accidentally threw over the 

neighbour's fence and will never see again.. woops!

They make me melt every time... and what about those seriously long, John Howard-esque eyebrows? They are too cute for words, I know. I can say no more.

I won't bother to recount all the things that make my heart melt. Let's just stop now and say that I think it's pretty obvious... I just love that dog.

It's weird to think that I've become a dog person in so short of time. After years of having a nomadic life and finally being able to settle down and have our own house again and our own dog... it's just so surreal. But I always knew we'd get a dog as soon as we came back to Perth, and hell, I was so excited that I was on the list at the breeder's month's before we even left Switzerland.

So while sometimes I wish I were still strutting down European streets, living the metropolitan life... I have to remind myself that in that life, I couldn't have a dog... and now I can... Sometimes, that and she makes all the difference...

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Tax time times three.

No it's not April 15th again. You didn't miss something. Instead, I did. Being an expat totally messes with your head sometimes, especially when you are changing time zones and seasons and systems so often. And one thing that I find uber complicated about being a chronic expat is taxes.

It would be simple if I could just pay the taxes for whatever country I was in at the time and call it quits.

But nooooooooooooooooooooo. It is never that simple.

First, I'm American, which means I'll always be American (unless I become an Australian citizen and give up my American citizenship... not really an option at the moment), so that means I will always have to file American taxes. Yup. Always.

So while I was in Switzerland... I had to file.

Now that I'm in Australia... I still file. Uncle Sam has me on speed dial.

Albeit, I get some breaks having foreign earned income, but I still have to file all the paperwork and fill out the foreign earned income stuff. My tax preparer, Cookie (no joke), in Germany (also no-joke, they do all the US military in Germany's taxes, so they know how to handle foreign earned income) does a great job though and I usually don't have to pay much extra. Heck, this year I even got a small refund that covered her fees - coincidence? I think not.

So if I'm American, you'd think that'd be it - file in the US and be done with it.

Nope. Especially not this year.

This year, we have to file in the US, in Australia and in Switzerland. Yes, I know, the joys!

Switzerland, for example, gives you 12 months to file your taxes, so we have until the end of this year to file for 2009. There you had taxes pulled out of your wages each month if you were a foreigner, Swiss residents don't and the 13th pay is usually there to cover the tax man. So even though I paid my taxes monthly, I still have to file... and like all things Swiss, a Swiss tax accountant is expensive. Joy.

Then, on top of Swiss taxes and US taxes, I soon get the joy of filing Australian taxes because the financial year goes from July to June here... so after just doing the US taxes, I get to do the Swiss and Australian taxes in tag team... why don't they just take my entire wages now and give me a small pittance for bread?

Really though - you don't get taxed doubly - or triply... you get breaks for tax you pay in foreign countries, but there are so many loop holes and different laws that it really does pay to get professional help when it comes to being an expat and filing your taxes - at least for the first year or so until you get an example of how it's supposed to be done!

So next time you're complaining about taxes - think about me. This year, I've got tax time x's three...

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Margaret River Chocolate Factory - Chocolates & Rocky Road Bars Galore!

Let's face it - Australia is not Switzerland. It can try to be a land full of chocolate and cheese, but it will NEVER be the land of chocolate and cheese. Nevertheless, Australia is doing its best and one local in particular is high up there on my list of excellent chocolates... for Australian chocolates that is... It's The Margaret River Chocolate Factory, in Margaret River of course.

Whenever we go "Down South" - as the Perthites call it, we have to stop in to the Margaret River Chocolate Factory. It's in and amongst all the wine land so it's hardly out of your way... I mean, you need a palate cleanser in between all those wine tastings really, so it's practically ordained that you should stop here.

It's grown a lot since the last time I was here - before it was just a little shop with a few shelves and a big bowl of chocolate chips (choc bits if you're Aussie, pastilles if you want to be fancy) welcoming you when you walked in the door, beckoning you to take a handful and munch on them while you're looking around. Now, it's a few bigger bowls plus aisles, upon aisles of products with everything from chocolate bars to truffles and sauces, to the more out there chocolate bath salts and massage products!

To be honest, I was captivated by the bars, and they are so lovely right - like something you'd find in Willy Wonka's safe, but to tell you the trust (and the sales girl and I did the math three times, and she said it was crazy, too...) the bags are the best value - by a lot. So unless you need to hide your secret stash, go for the bags of chocolates. They're the same flavours and the better value. My favourites are the chocolate with roasted peanuts and the jamaican rum chocolates, and Jace loves the cookies and cream!

After you've done a few laps of the store and you still can't make up your mind what to take home, don't fret, there's a lovely little cafe at the back of the store that will give you a bit more time to help you make up your mind. While they're preparing your heart's desire, you can also watch the chocolates being made through the viewing window!

While I was watching them make some chocolate freckles, they were pouring me a big glass of hot chocolate, made from steaming, hot milk and a handful of the very same chocolate chips/bits that I had been carrying around the store. Now this is the real deal when it comes to hot chocolate! Check out those bits of chocolaty goodness in the bottom of my glass! YUM! I almost wanted to slurp them up with  my spoon.

What's that in the background you ask? Well, Jace snuck that onto his plate while I was lost in chocolate maker heaven, watching the chocolatiers fill plastic moulds with dark chocolate and store them in the fridge for good little girls like me to buy later...  this Kalorienbombe as my German host mother would have called it is a Rocky Road slice.

Heaven knows if these are in the States, but they are very popular here... no marshmallows in my hot chocolate, but there was one on the side and plenty of them in this dessert to satiate our appetites for sweet, yummy goodness - homemade, too, I think! Boy was this sweet- I am getting a cavity just looking at it, but the perfect treat to ensure you don't buy too much on the way out considering that you just ate half the store in one sitting! Rocky Road bars are full of marshmallows, nuts, and loads more if you make them yourselves... share your recipes, please, if you do!

But let's focus refocus - The Margaret River Chocolate Company... you are the worst kept secret in Margaret River and for good reason - you're delicious. Even if you don't drink, there's a reason to come Down South and enjoy the view and the epicurean delights. Let me know if you stop there and what chocolates you buy - as you won't get out without buying a few bags, or bars, or both!

Margaret River Chocolate Factory
Best chocolates in Australia
http://www.chocolatefactory.com.au/



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