pre christmas fun

The nephews, niece's and more are arriving now a few days before Christmas, after tennis this morning, we went Christmas shopping at SM. Expecting horrendous queues it wasn't too bad at all, we got there fairly early and it was more or less normal. Maybe that the recession is making money and spending tighter this year i'm not sure, anyway shopping was fine. Back for lunch, Lizelle away so Nanay is chief cook and a snooze after for the three of us (me, ann and annika).

Quite a cool day and so kids had a play outside with the ball to give them a warm up before the swim. they hit the pool and me and Annika joined them. Tempted out later by Fried banana (yes fried banana) prepared by Nanay for a late afternoon snack. See photo evidence supplied.

Christmas a couple of days away only

Orphanage christmas Party

On behalf of the "friends of Mindanao" group we decided to give some poor orphanage children a Christmas party at Meregrande which is a splendid beach resort place. the date was set for yesterday 18th of December and the party went fantastically well, everyone had a great time, the children had fun and the adults too.

For me the party started with Paul coming round at 7am, and Paul and I drove in separate vehicles to help fetch the children. We drove to the orphanage at Calinan, about 25km away and met James and Lisa. There was also a Jeepney hired which took the majority of the children, i took some 3 poor infirm children and their carers and we set off back for mergrande arriving about 8:30am. We unpacked, got the kids settled and i bolted back home to pick up my familly and the Bunda familly who also were attending.

I left all the food being prepared by Karen and Lizelle and came back to an organised house, drinks and plenty of food, and presents, loads of presents.

The party was for the 15 kids normally resident at the orphanage but James had recently collected 3 infirm children from the mountainous area and those kids too were able to attend. Unfortunately the three kids were not physically able to join in with the games but they enjoyed the change of scene and being with the other children of course.

The "friends of Mindanao" group had supplied the presents and the funding for the party, but i had also been contacted via this blog by Maricon Bajo who wished to attend the party but who could not because hapilly for Maricon she was pregnant and the doctor had ordered rest. Maricon very kindly donated lots of presents for the day, Dolls for the girls, lots of presents for the boys and also "prize" presents to be given on the day itself, the kids loved Maricons toys, thank you so much for this kind act.

We loaded the car (no idea how we all fitted) and arrived back in mergrande about 10am, none of the kids were swimming, what was wrong? Lisa explained they wanted to do a show for us, they had been rehearsing, they had donned costumes and make up and were ready to perform. Good timing because Reg, Ian and John turned up for the show. Chris and his wife also came a little later. Lisa had put so much work into the show beacuse it was great, singing and dancing and solo's as well, wow those kids are sweet, there were more than a few tears in the eye moments.

Lunch was called for and spahetti, meatballs and rice, what a feast, drinks were served for the kids and then it was time for the adults food as well, which was delicious. 2 other Directors of the orphanage turned up, Dr Robillio and his wife and so we were able to meet them and share some time with the children.

What after that, well of course swimming, James led the way with the kids and i couldn't resist joining in with Arnel and super keish as well, it was great fun. Another emotional moment was when the 3 infirm children were carried into the ocean to experience swimming for the very first time.

After that...party games, prizes, presents, more food kindly donated by Chris Kaluna and his wife
and of course sweets and well, that was about it, time to head of home.

Thanks for Paul for supervision and transport, another big thanks for Maricon, for Chris and familly for their food and Lisa and James.

It was a great day out.

Orphanage party and first swim

Tuesday 9th of December was a day i wasn't looking forward to but it turned out all right, actually it turned out very well. The "friends of Mindanao" group had decided to sponsor a Christmas party for the orphanage in Calinan called the Pag-Amoma orphanage, there are going to be 18 kids but three of the children are infirm (muscle wasting disease, seems to be congenital) and they need individual carerers, with three other helpers for the rest of the kids and then the "friends of Mindanao" members and family, well there could be 40-50 people going.

The party is on the 18th of december at Mergrande a rather splendid beach resort, sea, playground, swimming pool, gardens, an ideal location. I had voluteered to help organise the party and several meetings had taken place to decide on events. Yesterday Tuesday it was decided that Lisa and I (Lisa is the orphanage manager) should go shopping for the xmas presents for the kids. We set a budget for the party (about 75% collected so far...) and a sum of this per child (going to be fairly vague here) was allocated for the present for the child to be given to him or her on the day. Tuesday was the shopping day aaagh, it was bad.

James dropped Lisa off and we went to Mergrande to ask for discount, partial success there, Lisa chose NCCC China town, Uyangaren (sp?) traffic was horrendous and parking was nearly impossible, circled 3 times, found a smiling boy who parked us up and off we went to shop.

The store is big and suitable, full of bargains and loads of stuff, T shirts, Shorts, outfits, shoes (don't tell the kids) and various other things for the 18 kids. No idea how lisa kept track of it all but i left it all to her, quite a logistical task. Various trips back to the car and then it was done, back to lucnch at our place, mong beans and fried fish, Lisa's favourite, tasted fine to me too.

Then, see photo, Germaine and Lizelle helped to sort the gifts and store them in gift bags ready for the big party, the biggest task here was taking the price tags off everything.

See picture, job got done and Lisa left, the party should be really fun.

Then PM after negative advice from the medical profession here, i asked Ann to check various web sites, which confirmed actually that Annika could swim. So, about 5pm Dad and daughter had our first swim, it went well, Annika very happy, splashing and the usual happy stuff, to be repeated daily for the next few years, pool, toys needed, always something eh.

New camera

After a week without, and after a little bit of perusing, we bought a new replacement camera. the direct replacement for the one we lost was the sony but it had gone both touch-screen and expensive. We had previously had a sony touch-screen video cam but it went wrong and caused us some grief so we didn't want to go there again, anyway too expensive, about 30,000 peso (nearly 400 quid at the current reducing rate of exchange).

So, we went for the cannon ixus 901s and very nice too...here are a few no too inspiring shots with the new camera. The pregnant lady in the first shot was the sales lady of course for the camera and the first photo taken with it.

Cost was 16,000 peso or about 200 quid, just under really, so, not bad.

Car in for service and estimate for repair "ouch"....camera and anns phone replaced, just the i-pod to go and then we will be back to where we were before the bump and the robbery, ah well only money i suppose.............

good news balanced by bad

The good news was that Mum got home safely, good to hear from Mum and Janet and Andy, although shame about the derby result following our phone call, i hear utd deserved to win. More good news was my form at tennis this morning, couldn't miss and me and Freddie wiped up the formidable team of Fieden and Pete 8- 1. It was 7 - 0 and a whitewash was only just avoided by them, anyway it was just one of those sets and i couldn't miss. Everyone asking about you at the club Mum.

But bad news and only a few hours after your phone call Mum, we had a robbery and our lovely camera was stolen along with apple i pod mp3 player and 2 cell phones, Anns and Lorenz's.

What happened was that i was in the bedroom with a tetchy Annika, the rest were chowing down on rice and whatever and the house was virtually available and un-attended and so....aaagh the pain, no camera and so of course no relevant pictures but i will look in my archive now and pick a couple which haven't yet been posted. Police came and they reckon (the police) that the burglars will return, hope to catch the buggars next time.

Only inconvenience and money lost, we are a bit sad but glad Mum got home safe and i am also glad my tennis form is at last looking up, my forehand was a weapon, told you i could do it Mum.

Holiday over

Six weeks have flown by, the highlights were Mums birthday, trip to Mati and probably the highlight of the lot was Annikas Christening which went particularly well, such a happy event.

Karen and Arnel came round to see Mum off and with Joy and Cora, seemed all quite a good send off, party.

I checked flight time on the internet and all was in order. Joy and 3 kids came with me and mum to the airport, checked the airport departure tax (Peso 550), hired a porter for Mum and it was a trouble free drop off, well i think so anyway as Mum disappeared through to the terminal we weren't able to follow due to security reasons and due to opaque glass a few final waves were all we could manage

We dropped Joy off on the road to Tagum and i drove home witht he 3 kids, through town for a change to home.

All a little bit anti-climactic and the end of Mums visit, plenty of incident, from being stuck in the sand on Samal to hitting (the occasional) winner on the tennis court, a full 6 weeks, reflections will follow but for now, will follow Mums progress on the internet and over to Andy to pick up at the airport tomorrow 6am uk time, 2pm sunday here.

last night out for Mum

We thought we would go to jack's ridge for mums last evening and night out. It was a good idea, there were beautiful christmas lighting and good atmosphere with plenty of people about including dozens of children about 14year old's on a school trip.

We had picked up Roel and also took Joy who had come from Tagum to say good bye to Mum, with daughter nika and Ann's mum too. We picked up Roel at local bar De bojeri (picture of Mum, Joy and Roels girlfriend Valerie who works at the bar) and went to Jacks Ridge. As i mentioned, atmosphere was great but food was pretty awful and the band was too LOUD. Rock music beating away with high decibel level, was driving away customers in droves, off we went after a couple of beers, too......

Where to? where was that place? a small bar near Matina crossing, where we had a couple of beers only, with just time to catch a few songs from the band there. roel knew one of the singers there who joined us for a drink, Emee i think is her name, pictured with Roel.

And that was the night done, Roel dropped off to do some work "on line" and through the night in his new venture and me Joy and mum safely home.

Nightcap for Mum? refused, so i had one on my own and chatted to Mats from Sweden on - line, now Mats, there is one for another blog post....

Mums last morning now Saturday 29th november 08.

This is how it's shaping up

A slow start to the day, not too much to get up and dash about for, a bit of waiting around for bits and pieces of things, waiting for people to phone and something or nothing to do, Annika well under par (see face in photo) and no idea why, could be teething, could be well, no idea really. All will clarify later.

Hot today with blue skies, fruit for breakfast for me and mum, banana, papaya and pineapple and all delicious. Mum just gone for a swim before it gets too hot and all this before 9am. Annika's sleeping not perfect yet of course, disturbs Ann in the night and then early morning needs some special attention, first to keep Annika happy and also to let Ann sleep, this is the job of either me or Germaine, this is our little life at the mo, nearly perfect...nearly...

red knights garden and golf

Tuesday 25th of November was golf day, invited by Ray Fimore owner of Red Knights Garden for golf, he had invited me many times before so, on behalf of mum i was pleased to accept and we met at 9am for beans on toast breakfast (very nice) before departing, Ray lent Mum some clubs.

The three of us went together Ray showed me some short cuts which were handy for the future and to the course Palais Verde, which was / is a sculptured golf course wrapped around a high and expensive but mainly empty sub-division. The club house was very formal and BIG

The start was all, club drop off's, choosing caddy, registering for match card (passport!!) and faffing around with locker keys and towels.

The couse was difficult sculptured and opulent and out of step with a poor local population.

Ray was a good host, Mum had a fun Caddy, Bianka and the game progressed, rest stops at hole 7 and 14 i think and about 4 hours to go round, i walked and chatted, mainly to Ray but Mum of course as well, who half walked and half went in the buggy which Bianka drove

And that was it, weather was cool which allowed Mum to finish, it was tiring, even for me who walked. Back to Red knights garden, welcome beer and curry,.... golf over....

Breakfast Crew, "super" Keish and Annika

Annika coming on so well, as can be seen by sitting results where she is feeling very pleased with herself. The breakfast crew i couldn't resist snapping away at as they were chowing down, a little bit naughty of me because they are all a little self conscious and like mother in law will have no teeth in, but i neither care and if its done with a smile, everyone happy.

We had a few nights of family visits due to an auntie's funeral being on the way to and from aunties house, "we" (me, mum ann) dodged the funeral because...it is in a remote area and no facilities, there was an over-night vigil which there was no way me and mum would have attended and the thought of going with a baby is a bit of a no no.

Anyway, off they all went Sunday morning, shortly after breakfast and all happy. Me, Mum and roel went for sunday lunch and a chat (no pictures...sorry) and with a movie later (Amistad...or rather 2/3rds of the movie...3rd disc tonight...me ran out of energy) that was sunday done and that was that.

Eagles and Vegetation

Forgot to post these 2 great pictures from the trip earlier in the week to the Philippine eagle sanctuary, the eagle and vegetation equally impressive. Loads of Eagles including Philippine eagles which is in danger of extinction, they are pretty magnificent, so, great shame if the conservation measures don't pay off.

Rocky Challenge

Rocky is the one on the right and yesterday we had what i dubbed as the "Rocky challenge". After many texts to suss out who my partner was the challenge was set for Saturday morning, early. I chose Fieden, a strong player as my partner and Rocky turned up 45mins late with his partner who i didn't know, but Fiedens smile told me we were in trouble, yes we were. After just a few minutes we were 4-0 down and playing weakly, tentative and were being blasted away, Rocky's partner was too hot to handle. But Fieden and i buckled down (after a quick chat), improved and it became a decent game, we got to 2-6 down and then, playing some strong tennis to 6-6, rocky was rattled.

For some reason we play 8 game sets but at 7-7 we play a tie breaker, which unfortunately we lost and with it, back came Rocky's confident smile. Oh well, we had him worried, and there is always next week.

tennis , eagles and girls

First the girls and couldn't resist taking this picture of the girls as they gather outside the house every evening as the weather cools, its a time for chat and giggles, i herded them together for the shot shown, there are our 2 maids germaine and lizelle and the maid from over the road ganggang, then there is Ann, Annika and Anns Mum.

Did i mention i found my keys yesterday at immigration, they were "keeping" them for me, "why didn't you come back for them?"....i did.....

Tennis this morning and the usual mixed bag of decent play and absolute rubbish, same old then

Me and mum ventured to the philippine eagle sanctuary and malagos gardens, its all eco friendly stuff and wildlife preservation, it was / is a 40 minute drive away and in the foothills of Mt Apo so its very beautiful, we just had a general gad round, a meal and few beers and then a further stumble round, what more could you want.

Back for a snooze and two offers for the evening entertainments, a birthday party next door in under an hour from now, should be a short do, then friend Roel has asked us to join him at a music venue later on, can't see me making the second because i have a semi serious tennis challenge tomorrow, challenged by rocky, more later....

Looks like suicide

Couldn't help stopping and shooting this example of dodgy scaffolding on the outside of a 3 storey building going up near to where friend Paul lives. The guys were very pleased to have their picture taken, got cheery waves and hello joe's from all of them, tried not to scare them too much in case of well....death

Forget the power lines that run through the picture, the scaffold is the rest of it, flimsy as it is.

friends of mindanao, immigration and lost car keys

yes lost the bloody car keys and that was the last event of a successful morning that turned pear shaped. No idea where i lost them, except for where we had been, so, dashed round looking at places, till i ran out of ideas, then taxi home with mum, taxi back without mum and then further hunt and drive home with spare keys. Aaaaghhh

Before that the day had started well, we went with friend Paul to 'friends of Mindanao" meeting, see photo., Mum is a friend of Mindanao. The head spoeaker was Bong Domingo who talked interestingly and professionally about herbs and spices grown in your own garden. I did an update speech on collecting cash for the christmas party, the speach went ok, the cash collection, less so but we will get there.

Then a trip to immigration department for me with Mum coming along, friendly guard allowed her photo to be taken with Mum, all successful there but loads of forms to fill in and some more fees to be paid, finger printing to be done, and waiting for "alien" registration card, then its only a question of appearing every year to register, to apply for full time visa after 1 years probation and then...well, etc etc, you get the picture.

Bit sick about loosing the keys, will have to replace, that will be expensive....aaagh oh well, see ya

She is a star

Yes the big christening took place yesterday 16th of November 08, check out my FLICKR account for additional photos there are loads to choose from.

We were pleased with everything, the church, the service, the godfathers and godmothers, 6 in total, friend Paul from the UK, Raul next door neighbour and friend, Anns sister Karen and brother GaGa and cousin PinPin and friend Nilda, wife of Rene. All splendid and in attendance.

The service was fairly short, with about 10 children also being baptised, Annika slept through the service but stirred into life when the christening water was poured over her head, it was more than a trickle. Loads of photos at the church and then back for our house party, it was a shame everyone in the UK could not be there, as there was fantastic food and drink, about 60 people plus kids turned up, at least 30 kids all in the pool for hours, singing and dancing later on as the beer kicked in and then everyone to bed early, because we were all shattered, me soon after 9pm was the last to bed. Tired today, very tired, managed to raise myself for tennis this morning, although a tired game...Mum spectated, knock up only.

Mums Post

Busy Day here. sun is out after wet friday. Rick's back has bothered him this week, always someone suffering. I'm doing ok. Today lovely early am swim followed by a hot local walk. Sweat was pouring. Lots of family have arrived for the Big Do. cora's grandchildren just presented me with a large fancy birthday card they made, signed and decorated. Ahhhhhh

The patrents and god parents (six) are going to a pre-christening seminar at 5am this pm, some groaning about that! I will probably watch tennis, its been good on the same local time as here. Thanks for all news, thinking about you all and missing you - but we can't be miserable here - there's a party on! Lots of Love Mum.....note pictures shown are from the morning walk at a local seminary and church