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

samal stuck in mud and mid week

As you can see from the pictures, it wasn't all hardship. After a quiet start to the week, tennis and shopping monday and a meal out and not a satisfactory souvenir hunting trip tuesday, we decided on wednesday to visit Samal.

Samal is a large island a short ferry ride away from Davao city. There are loads of ferries going to different places, i decided to drive R.O.R.O. (roll on roll off) ferry went from an industrial port area of Sasa.

About 3 quid each way and it was a 2 part intended programme. the first was to explore part of the island i hadn't previously visited. this went well, until the car stuck fast in soft sand on a dodgy road. Forward and backwards, it just sank deeper. Hmmm we were stuck. Within a few minutes, 4 guys arrived and helped push it out, a filthy vehicle but we were glad to be out. A 20 minute drama.

After that i thought sod it, lets head for the beach, where we spent a very pleasant day at a small manicured resort called Chemas, arrived about 12, i swam and beered, we then had a good lunch and back for more swimming. After a nod and a doze we were joined by the resort owner Joquin and we had a few beers and chat together.

Ferry back, heavy traffic through rush hour traffic, seemed impossible at one stage to get through un-scathed but we managed it, had sufficient problems earlier in the day, didn't want any more. Safely back for 6pm....sadly and very sadly instead of tennis on there is a poxy football match from australia, no idea at all why as simon is playing murray at the mo. A frustrating part of the cable schedules here, little idea from time to time what is going on, small problem, never mind, all well, love to all

pre-christening build up

Weekend was fairly quiet, rather very quiet, 2 reasons, first it was hot, second no great plans came to mind and well that was about it, various members of Ann's family arrived for a pre-christening plan and cook up and Ann felt better for some preparations getting underway....food cooked and frozen in part preparation for the big day next sunday. We were all a bit bored but the days passed with bits and pieces of swimming, visits, feeding, drinking and watching some ridiculous movie and then one of my tennis buddies txtd me and we watched some shanhai tennis...so it all passed well.

Monday was back to action style with tennis in the morning, Mum up at 6am for a 6:30 get away, i had a couple of sets, Mum watched mainly but also had a knock up and then it was Mums big turn. Me and Mum took on fieden and Freddie, a fearesome ex-coach and my regular tennis opponent Fieden. It was a good set Mum did well, some shanked winners, one or two rallies and we lost the set 6-3, mum won her serves and so all were happy. After tennis it was christening works, church office for registration purposes, party shop for tables, chairs and ballooons etc, SM for cake ordering and lunch, then another mall for bedding we are short of, and that was it, Monday done. Tennis back on now, Federer 1st then Murray later, its going to be a tennis evening..............all fine here

successful friday

Why successful? well really because we got Mums tourist visa extended past the end of her visit, it was an hour and a half of waiting around but people were pleasant enough and we got the visa. Obviously with this lack of 6 months validity in Mums passport, there was a small danger of the visa getting rejected, but i didn't think there would be a problem and there wasn't, they are not as serious here as we are.

To celebrate for lunch, me and mum went to ah fats, "best chinese restaurant in town", excellent scoff and 2 (for mum) or 3 (for me) beers went down well. Handed out some christening invitations, did a bit of fruit shopping and that was the afternoon gone too.

Took these few shots in the garden this afternoon, Mum going for her second swim of the day, the first was this morning, i went tennis and i persuaded Mum to laze around and take it easy after our excursion to Mati. It all worked out well, Annika happy, you can see from the photos, staying in this evening and feeling lazy....byeee

trip to "city" of Mati and Masau beach resort

We had our trip out to Mati and really enjoyed it, it was an interesting trip, some good and started off bad. The journey there was fine (about 4hrs) but near Mati it began heavy rain, roads were in poor condition and with twists and turns Mum got a head ache.

The head ache cleared after a couple of pills and glass of beer, good work....the rain cleared and we made it to a rustic but beautiful resort called Masao.

We had a wander round, weather improved and we decided to stay. Food and beer followed the wander round and after a few gins it was goodnight vienna.

A beautiful 6am swim....wow the water was gorgeous, warm and caressing, "free" breakfast
followed and a weigh up of our options. Weather again looked threatening but after a while sky lightened and we decided to stay another night. A boat was hired for the afternoon and off we were whisked to a white sand island beach and an hours swim.

The fee for the "use" of the island went from 20peso per person to 300 per boat (new policy explained the solemn faced dude and that was his story. We settled on 100 after some verbals with me doing all of the talking and no more was said.

some fun at "tea" with the local waitresses, one of them calling me "dad" after i showed everyone a picture of my handsome son James and the young lady put herself forward as James's future wife, only in a very kind way, on behalf of James, i provisionally accepted. All good fun.

Journey home the next day (today) after swim and "free" breakfast was fine, good weather and easy drive, no problem at all. glad to be home, Annika beautiful, glad to see Dad and Grandma, Mum happy to be home.......thats it

monday tennis and up at 6AM

Here is Mum at the tennis club monday 3rd of November, the day after the big birthday and this is perhaps the difficult part to believe, mum up at 6am, out of the house for 6:30 and on the courts for before 7. This is our normal playing time here coz, well later it gets bloody hot.

Mum did well, nock up followed by a rest while the gentlemen (inc me) had an 8-6 close set. Mum itching to get in on the action had a nock with the club guy and then we had a set...mum playing with our club man who is a really strong player, and me and my buddy Fieden (pictured).

Fieden is a strong player but he was suitably gentle but not condescending with Mum and there were quite a few good rallies, we won 8-3 or 8-4 and it was good fun

After tennis, shopping with Germaine, lunch, rest, town for me for the bank etc and then a movie "the kite runner" good film, Mum enjoyed it. Early night and now its morning, ready for our trip.

Going (me and Mum) to Mati, heading for a beach resort i heard about, 3 hours drive away and then lets see....blog holiday, good to hear from you James, take care all....report to follow

rick / dad