Bogsers

Bogsers is a local music bar here in Central Park, Bangkal, (Davao City) good atmosphere, very friendly staff and owner, great music, both live and recorded. Mum liked the bar and we went there quite a few times, Bogs the owner very friendly and welcoming and invited me and Roel to his birthday party last monday, it was fun packed and friendly.

Bogs is a musician who lived and played in the US for 26 years and has an excellent voice, great keyboard man and is obviously a talented musician.

Last night i met Roel at about 8pm and we were joined by an old friend of Roels (Pedrito) and his band. Some short while later some cousins turned up and we were having a party.

We asked Oogie a Filipino friend to turn up, he did with some friends but it was 10pm and i was ready for home and bed, anyway it was a fun night, Bog's place is well worth a visit, the pictures very accurately reflect the atmosphere of the place and very handy for me in central park.

Half Way

Annika's half year celebrations today and as can be seen by today's photos she is coming on so well. Ann went with Annika to the doctors to get a jab and a check up, she is doing really well and solid foods and the next stage for eating and drinking were chatted through but seeing Annika plugged into the breast at regular times during the day and night there is no way she is in the mood to give up that treat.

Annika does seem to have an alergy, we think to processed milk products, she goes very blotchy in the skin when eating or sampling ice cream, and several other milky things, we will find out more in time, sure its a minor problem, the skin flares up and recedes with lightning speed.

What else, well she can roll over both ways, looks ready to start crawling and has some strength in the legs, she is very alert and knows how to "ask" for things. She is a star.

Today i dunked her under the water for the first time in the pool and was interested to see how she reacted. Shear panic while under water would be the best description but when on the surface after say 0.5 seconds, under water a sort of stunned acceptance. ( i waited till ann wasn't about). Repeated it once more and same reaction, i thought twice was pushing my luck, so decided against a third dunk, we were in the pool for about 25 mins, water very warm.

That is the update on Annika,only good news.............

River rafting

Our kind next door neighbour's Raul and Emily invited me to come rafting and i invited Mats and his Swedish visitor Anders to join us. The river is very near the San miguel brewery near Digos and a beautiful natural setting, rushing river, trees and canyon views.

We had 8 guides and 1 chef, Emily decided not to take part as she had done the trip many times and the mountain water was fresh to say the least, bloody cold actually but nice to feel cold here sometimes, honestly.

Didn't get any water riding the wave shots because we were on it and mainly in it (the water), it was an exciting and exhilarating experience about 2 hours of adrenalin rush

The pictures shown are Raul and Mats relaxing with a beer or two at the bottom, Emily supervising the lunch, very nice it was, our guides, the river and also a shot of our "raft", great fun and me and Mats are planning a longer trip down Davao river, which Mats has done before, an 8 hour trip, more sedate with beer and BBQ facilities, sounds fun to me.

New Years eve party

Started at 6pm finished about 2pm by that time i had had enough, switched a few lights off and suddenly everyone got up and left, i suppose it wasn't such a subtle hint but i was dog tired and had some clearing up to do, nobody seemed upset.

How could they, it went very well, just a few friends and a few of Ann's family, everyone mixed in well together, food was fantastic, loads to drink, and the biggest shock of all...everyone drinking coffee...who started that off? think it was Chris and then everyone jumped in with an order.

Then it was beer and spirits again for the midnight toast and on to the streets to "make some noise" (fire crackers not allowed here in Davao) and then back to more chatting and drinks until the 2pm switch off.

There was a strong Swedish influence at the party, Mats and Cora and friend Anders as well as Chris and bingBing.

Thanks to Nilda nd Rene, Cora and Mats and Chris and BingBing for help with the food and all with drinks of course....we had fun.

Happy new year

She is eating

Goodness me where has the last 6 months gone? It has all been shrinking world markets, sleepless nights and Annika growing up a little star. Ann's target was a 6 month period of breast milk exclusively and she has breezed across that line with a confident smile while breasting (almost literally) the metaphorical tape.

She is growing fast and although 6 months has not yet been reached we are trying her already with the odd mashed squash, mashed banana and latest baby food from the dish.

Annika seems to like everything, even tamarind soup which she had a lick of seemed to get a nod of approval.

As James and Tim of course approaches 21, Annika is a confident and chubby 6 months, evidence supplied.