Gathering the Memoirs

Sorry guys, I have not added anything to this blog for a long long long long time. I have been concentrating on my review for my exams on October. I am very grateful for your visits, and although I have not updated this for sometime I knew who comes and goes.
So today, I have uploaded some photos to add some colours and memoirs.

The old church in front of Buttermarket Shopping centre

Dad and James in front of the Old Town Hall, Ipswich, Suffolk, UK

Same old spot as above

Quisha Bustamante, on Sidegate Primary Summer Sports Fest '08.

James, Perfect handstand on Sidegate Primary Sports Fest '08

Jessica, Black Groupleader Sidegate's Summer Sports Fest '08

Picnic time at the School's grounds with the Bustamante Family. One family is missing, we used to have them with us last year, and years before that. Missing you, Mariano Family. Hope to join you soon in Canada.

Quisha, also showing off her perfect handstand! Who says only boys can

What about like this?

Joke Ulit

Praying for 10 Pesos
Sa loob ng simbahan ng Quiapo, isang batang pulubi ang mataimtim na nanalangin sa Diyos.

Pulubi: "Panginoon kung maaari po sana ay bigyan ninyo ako ng sampung piso dahil gutom na gutom na lang po ako."

Narinig sya ng isang pulis na kasalukuyan ding nagsisimba at bumilib sya sa katatagan ng bata sa pananampalataya sa Diyos. Sa kanyang habag ay dumukot sya ng limang piso at iniabot sa bata na ang sabi: "Amang, narinig ng Diyos ang panalangin mo at heto tanggapin mo ang perang ito at ibili mo ng pagkain".

Tumingala ang bata sa pulis, kinuha nya ang limang pisong iniabot at muling yumuko para manalangin: "Panginoon, salamat po sa pagdinig ninyo sa aking panalangin, pero sana naman po sa uli-uli wag na ninyong pararaanin pa sa pulis, kasi malaki na ang bawas".

__boy balakubak
London, UK

Last Day of my Week's Annual Leave

It's Saturday, and it's my last day of my week's annual leave. I could not believe how the week has gone so quick. Nothing special happened. I am just at home most of the time because we can not go somewhere far because the children are still at school, and besides, I am not perfectly well for the first few days of the week. As usual, not feeling 100% after three days of Tonsillitis, having tremors and jittery and not on my usual strenght. I feel that I am not getting any younger, and everytime I am not well, it takes longer time to get back to my usual self. Getting and going old, for short.
Last Thursday's crabbing, we thought of riding the ferry today, but this morning the wind is strong and the sky is grey, so I thought of our safety immediately, and although the children are disappointed, they understood after I explained to them my concerns.
Anyway, we will just stay indoors, rent a film, stroke the rabbits, play nintendo DS, oh, and saying that, I am hooked to Brain Training. I would not tell you how old my brain is but I am working towards it.

Fashionable Eyewear

Are you needing prescription glasses, or perhaps thinking of getting a new pair? Well search no more because the answer is here at Zenni Optical. They offer prescription glasses with excellent quality frames at excellent prices. In fact their services have been featured in FOX News .

ZenniOptical.com is a website that offer and sells stylish prescription glasses from as low as $8.00. They have a huge array of frames, with single vision lens, sunsensor (photochromic) lens, tinted sunglasses lens, bifocal lens and progressive lens; all with affordable prices, and would not hurt your budget. They could provide you with huge savings because they only sell their own manufactured frames direct to you with no middlemen, therefore you are getting the best for your money with no hidden charges.

Another Good Time

Today, I am so bored, so when the children came home from school, we decided to have some fun and do what Novie did last Tuesday.... Gaya-gaya ba.

Is that how you live your life..... Crabbing?

Just being nosey

Dad, Jessica, James: all busy getting crabs, making sure only the big ones goes to the bucket.
Watch out for that cunning seagull up there, it's after your catch.

Bored, because he's got no luck with crabs, and felt that monkeying about is gonna make it!

This seagull is patiently waiting to get hold of our bait leftovers

Fresh and live, kasarap gataan! Huwag maingay, ang mga puti kasi, kapag nanghuhuli nito, binabalik din sa tubig pagkatapos, di ba naman mga aning! Basta kami, sarap ng hapunan!

BRAVE?

I have always been adventurous since being a young girl, and now that I have my own family, I'd like my kids to experience the same, and become confident and overcome their fears. But in our modern world now, I could not help but get paranoid about what they are getting themselves into. I do not know how to explain this, but I feel that danger is just lurking around all the time, and so I check, plan, risk assess, and a lot more before I could let the children run free or join activities. And as I do this, I feel I am limiting the fun. When I was young, I am brave to try almost anything such as mountain climbing, swimming not in the pool but rivers and ponds, and lots more without supervision, but now that I'm grown up and became a mum, I am fearful all the time, not for myself, but for my family. It's very hard to let go.

Look Cool with your Shades

Years back, when I was still in grade school, everytime I see someone wearing spectacles, I would immediately think that the person is either a genius ( read a lot, think a lot), or the person has got something wrong in his/her eyes or vision. But now, I think otherwise. Having an eyeware is now becoming a trend and part of overall outfit, specially if your glasses have got its designer's tag on it. Just like clothes and bags, and shoes, glasses are becoming part of today's fashion, so it is very important to get the right frame and suited to the person wearing it. You do not need to have something wrong with your eyes so you could wear one, in fact sunglasses is a must this summer season. Tell me of big names in the fashion industry, and for sure they have got something to shade their eyes, and most of the time, it is to match their outfit. Don't they look cool?

Male or Female?

As you are aware, ships have long been characterized as being female (e.g., "Steady as she goes" or "She's listing to starboard, Captain!")
Recently, a group of computer scientists (all males) announced that computers should also be referred to as being female.
Their reasons for drawing this conclusion follow: Five reasons to believe computers are female:
1. No one but the Creator understands their internal logic.
2. The native language they use to communicate with other computers is incomprehensible to everyone else.
3. The message "Bad command or file name" is about as informative as, "If you don't know why I'm mad at you, then I'm certainly not going to tell you."
4. Even your smallest mistakes are stored in long-term memory for later retrieval.
5. As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending half your paycheck on accessories for it.

However, another group of computer scientists, (all female) think that computers should be referred to as if they were male.
Their reasons follow:Five reasons to believe computers are male:
1. They have a lot of data, but are still clueless.
2. They are supposed to help you solve problems, but half the time they ARE the problem.
3. As soon as you commit to one you realize that, if you had waited a little longer, you could have obtained a better model.
4. In order to get their attention, you have to turn them on.
5. Big power surges knock them out for the rest of the night.

They're in season and thery're red hot!

It's finally summertime, and although British weather is so unpredictable, the temperature is still confirming summer season, and with this, I am so excited in getting different fruits into my fruit basket and prepare them each meal we have.
Tonight, I have the pleasure to open up and slice a huge seedless watermelon for which we have tucked into after our dinner. It's such a sweet red darling that I can not help but take a photo of it.

Just having a bit of this lush in the table make our dinner special. To be honest, we're all bored and tired with apples, pears, oranges, and all those plums, and nectarines, berries and the like. They looked nice and beautiful from the supermarkets, but once they arrive into our fruit bowls, nobody touches them, so I feel I am just wasting money. But being a mum, I feel obliged to feed the family at least five kinds of fruit and vegetable a day. So this summer is just great for different tastes in the table, hmmmmmm.

The Good Ole' Days

These photos are over three years old, but still keep their colours, so before they fade, I might as well store them online for better keeping. The one above was taken at the basement of Harrods' in London.... Tribute to the Princess Diana and Dodi.

Above, with friends after having tear and share food because the picnic was unannounced so most haven't prepared anything. Frankly, I quite like that kind, no stress, and just be carefree.

Taken at one of the London underground tunnels. Trying to find our way out perhaps, or figuring which way to our next tube.

Another unannounced picnic by the carboot sales. Lots of Filipino friends came and joined us with no preparations whatsoever, yet we had a good time together.

Winter snowballing, and just being carefree.

Becoming tired from roaming around and nowhere to sit but the stairs.
The original basketball team players. Some have gone to other places, but the spirit is still here.

Another photo taken at Harrods' - London's elite.

Interview update

Few friends learned and asked about my interview the other day. Well, as usual, I have the butterflies and bees buzzing in my stomach the whole day, the tension is just too much for me. I tried my best to get prepared, but none have helped my nervousness, until the time has come five o' clock dead on, the phone rang, and presto, my interviewer on the other end. Obviously she verified my identification, spelt my name correctly, asked my d.o.b., etc, and we had a nice chat, basically. All the frequently asked questions from google did not come at all. You probably can imagine me, sitting on the floor (buti na lang carpeted) in our lounge with all the papers laid around, with all my possible answers written down! hayyyyyyy.... none of it came. Anyway, the whole interview appeared positive, so I am just waiting for another one this time. Hopefully this week. I sure will update you guys.

Siya Si Alfredo. Subukan nyo lang ang kwento nya.

Ang kanyang tunay na pangalan ay Alfredo dela Cruz Alejandria, ngunit sya ay bantog sa palayaw na Freddie, ang aking kabiyak sa buhay. Kami'y nagkakilala sa pamamagitan ng telepono, at sa mga panahong iyon ay kasalukuyan siyang tagu ng tago dahil me babaing nagtangkang pumikot sa kanya, at duon na nakatira sa mga magulang niya simula nung araw na siya ay nilasing nitong babae, at pagkat talagang ayaw niya sa babaeng iyon, napilitan siyang umalis at lisanin ang tahanan na kanyang kinalakihan. Sabi nya sa kanyang sarili, di bali ng walang masilungan, wag lang mapasubo sa isang bagay na sa simula pa lang ay alam nyang di nya gusto. Ilang buwan din siyang palipat-lipat ng tirahan, nauuwi lang pag may pagkakataon halimbawa e kung ang babaing iyun ay lumuwas papuntang probinsiya, o kaya eh umalis sandali, at siya naman ay sikretong tumatawag sa kanilang telepono upang alamin kung siya ay pwedeng makasaglit ng bahay. Kahit anong pangaral sa kanya ng kanyang mga magulang at mga kamag-anak, kanyang pinangatawanan na hinding-hindi siya pakakasal sa babaeng iyon. At sa gitna ng krisis na ito, kami ay nagkakilala sa pamamagitan ng kanyang tiyahin na aking naging kaibigan sa telepono at siyang nagpasa sa kanya. Simula noon, di na naghiwalay ang landas namin. Naalala ko, nuong siya ay nanliligaw pa lang, aking narinig, o kaya kanyang sadyang ipinarinig sa akin, na kanyang tinapat ang babaeng iyon sa telepono at sinabing hinding-hindi siya pakakasal dito sapagkat alam niya sa kanyang kalooban na hinding-hindi niya mapipilit ang kanyang sarili na ito ay mahalin. Mga ilang araw ang lumipas, may balitang buntis daw itong babae, ngunit buo ang loob ni Alfredo, paninindigan at susuportahan nya ang bata, pero hinding-hindi pa rin ito pakakasal. Lumipas ang dagdag na apat na buwan, napatunayang di rin pala buntis itong babae at gawa-gawa lamang nito ang kwentong iyun. Hanggang kusa na lang lumisan itong babae sa kanilang tahanan at umuwi sa probinsiya. Kusa rin nitong binura ang kasong kanyang isinampa sa barangay noong panahon na unang umiwas si Alfredo.

Sa mga panahong ito, di man niya sinasadya, aking nakilala ang kanyang pagkatao. Siya ay may matigas na paninindigan, at kahit na ito ay mali kung minsan, basta't kanyang dinisisyunan, di na ito mababali pa. Ni hindi rin siya marunong magbalat-kayo. Sa simula pa lang ay alam ko na kung ano ang kalagayan nya sa buhay, walang pagtatakip o tangkang itago ang kanyang estatus. Ngunit ganun pa man, marami pa rin ang nabibihag sa kanyang kapilyuhan. Siya ay natural na "flirt" at daig pa ang malanding itik kapag nakikipagkatuwaan. Bagay na kung minsan ay bumibighani sa mga puso ng ibang mga babae at umaakalang siya ay may gusto din sa kanila. Me ilang beses na rin na akin siyang inaway dahil dito, pero alam ko ang katotohanan. Hanggang sa aking napagtanto na walang silbi kahit siya'y aking awayin, alam kong dahil lamang sa aking pagseselos e aking sisirain ang aming pamilya. Ganuon talaga siya. Ilang beses na ring me babaing nagtangka kaming paghiwalayin, meron ako mismo ang tinitext upang sabihin lang na kaya niyang bilhin si Freddie, hindi kagaya ko, ni isang kusing e wala. Sa loob-loob ko, ako'y may tiwala sa aking asawa, hindi siya isang bagay lamang na may presyo at nabibili. Meron siyang pag-iisip at sariling disisyon. Minsan din, ako naman ang ginagalit at halatang gusto kami pag-awayin, kaya upang matigil ang kanyang pagti-text, sumagot ako ng ganito, sandali lang ha, aawayin ko muna siya (ngunit ang totoo, ako ay natatawa). Aba, isang buong araw yatang natuwa at di na nagtext ulit, hayyyy salamat. Talaga naman, kung minsan itong mga babae, parang mauubusan ng lalaki sa mundo, at kung sino pa yung may asawa na ang siya nilang gusto. Minsan sa aking inis may sinagot ako ng ganito. "Hoy miss, ganyan ka na ba kadesperada, at walang nagkakagusto sa iyo, at pati ang asawa ko ay gusto mong subukin? Kung ganyan ang sitwasyon mo, eh lalong wala kang pag-asa sa kanya, pagkat ang mga tipo nya ay yung mga pinag-aagawan, at di katulad mo, napag-iiwanan!" Ang taray no? Pero walang biro, nasabi ko talaga iyon. Ako kasi ang klase ng babae na bukas ang pag-iisip. Palibhasa, kaya kong maghanap-buhay at buhayin ang aking mga anak, kung sakali na nagbago ang pagmamahal ni Alfredo at hindi na siya masaya sa akin, aba eh, walang pilitan. Ayaw na ayaw ko na maririnig sa kaninuman balang araw, na ng dahil sa akin ay naging miserable ang buhay nya. Ganun pa man, di ko naman ibig sabihin na madali nyo lang maagaw siya sa akin, patunayan niyo munang kayo talaga ang kanyang gusto, at di na ako. Madali ang usapan. Pero kung sakali at pinatulan nga nya kayo pero kanya naman kayong inililihim at ikinahihiya at pinagsisihan at bakit nya napasok ang ganong gusot, aba eh mag-usap tayo. Di ako iskandalusa at mapagkatha ng kwento. Di katulad ng iba diyan, nakalabit at nakatawanan lang sandali, aba e inakala ng head over heels daw sa kanya si Alfredo, tsk tsk tsk. Ang lakas ng loob na ikalat sa buong bayan, parang celebrity gossip baga. At siyempre, eto namang mga mister at misis na mahilig makinig ng drama, mahilig magbasa ng magazine, mahilig magtsismisan, either nadagdagan o nababawasan ang kwento, kumporme sa kung sinong nagkwento...... hmmmmm ako ay natatawa at naiiling na lang sa inyo. Sa tanda kong ito, malakas na ang pakiramdam ko, alam ko ang kwentong may halong personal na interes. Di sa pagmamalaki, naging editor ako minsan ng school publication namin kaya nararamdaman ko ang tono ng bawat report sa akin.
O sige, patuloy tayo kay Alfredo. Sa amin namang pagsasama, di kami perfect couple. Mabibilang sa daliri ng isang kamay ko na kami ay nagsagutan, sapagkat kapag kami pag nag-aaway, tahimik. Di nagkikibuan at dedmahan. Pareho yata kami ng strategy kapag galit. Siya, wala lang, tahimik, at may selective hearing. Kahit sigawan mo yan sa tenga kapag ayaw ka nya kausap, wa effect ang sigaw mo..... (Ngunit kapag iyan ay nag-uumapaw na sa galit, nanginginig ang boses nyan). Katulad ng nabanggit ko kanina, malandi siya. Mahilig maglambing, at kung minsan kahit naiirita na ako, di pa rin makahalata. Tipo bang gusto kong nananahimik pero ayan siya at pabiro-biro, pa sweet sweet, at kung anu-ano pa animo'y bubuyog na kumakampupot. Madalas nagpapatawa yan, at dahil sa mahigit isang dekada na rin kaming nagsasama, alam na alam ko na ang style nya sa mga jokes, kaya kung minsan, di na rin ito mabili sa akin, bagamat aking napapansin sa mga pagtitipon, kapag siya nag-joke, nakukuha nya pa rin silang mapatawa.

Pagdating sa pamumuhay, si Alfredo ay masinop. Sa mga gamit, lagi siyang maalaga, di katulad ko, di naman burara, pero kapag ang isang bagay ay nasira, di ako apektado masyado kasi prinsipyo ko, gamit lang yan may sell by date yan o kaya hanggang dun na lang siguro ang silbi nun, samantala siya, gusto nyang optimized palagi ang gamit ng isang bagay, kaya napakaingat nya. Katulad lang ng cellphone nya, di basta-basta silid lang sa bag nya, baka raw magasgas kaya kailangan ilagay sa tamang lalagyan doon sa loob ng bag nya.

At sa usaping bag naman, si Alfredo ang taong di makalakad nang walang dalang bag. Sa simula pa lang ng kami'y magkakilala palagi na lang siyang may sukbit na bag. Ang laman naman ay di naiiba, wallet, ballpen, maliit na notebook, tarheta, kunting barya, at kung anu-anong mga resibo. Kung nawawala sa paningin ko si Alfredo at hawak ko ang kanyang bag, alam kong nandiriyan lang siya sa malapit, o kaya babalik at babalik din siya ilang saglit lang. Kung baga, parang may magic spell, kambal tuko sya dun sa bag nya. Kakalimutan na ako wag lang ang bag niya. Pero di sya mahilig mangulekta nito. Bibili siya ng isa lang at gagamitin ito ng ilang taon hanggang sa ito ay masira, saka lang siya bibili ulit. Kaya imagine, kung ang kanyang bag ay lumang luma na pero di pa sira, at kami at aatend ng pormal na party, ke gwapo nya sa kanyang terno, pero ayun at sukbit pa rin si bag nya!

Ang kanyang tanging luho ay pagkain. Mahilig yan sumubok ng pagkain sa iba't -ibang restaurant, kaya kami nananaba pareho. Hindi sya mahilig pumorma. Basta siya ay kumportable, wala siyang pakialam sa sasabihin ng mga tao, ke gusot at di naplantsa ang suot nya. Di rin siya gumagamit ng pabango o kahit cologne lang. Meron syang natatanggap paminsan-minsang regalong pabango, ayun ginagamit kong air freshener sa bathroom namin. Mahilig siyang magbutingting kaya meron siyang koleksyon ng mga tools, pero di siguro naiiba iyon sa ibang mga boys. Ang nakakatuwa, siya itong may nakalalamang ng bilang ng pares ng sapatos kaysa sa akin. Siya itong Imelda sa aming bahay.

I went to see my GP (family doctor, General Practice) today because I have had sore throat for the last three days and feeling under the weather. All I thought is it's just an ordinary viral tonsillitis which will be gone in a day or two, but last night aside from fever, chills, and aching all over, I felt I have to breathe through my mouth, and my nose is blocked, so if I need to talk, I have to speak in half sentences, and I've been drooling (like asong ulol) and my neck glands are getting bigger by the day which made me panic..... Just the thought of our patients being intubated due to laryngitis...... Scary!
So here I am, off sick again from work, on antibiotics and anti inflammatories, and been banned by my husband to drink soda (well, only if he's around).