Life continues…

Dennis did the weekly food shopping for his mother and his mother’s neighbour. He also did a bit of a small shop for us. I panic when I cannot find bread in the freezer or in the bread bin.

Dennis harvested five cherry tomatoes from my lone tomato pot. Sweet and crunchy – my mother in law said.

I had another driving lesson last night. After manoeuvring two round about(s): small one on third gear and bigger one on second gear my driving instructor jokingly commented if I have Irish blood (cheeky monkey!). I love the Irish – my Religious Education teachers were Irish; my Spiritual Director was Irish and my bosses in college were Irish missionaries. Although…J

Today Dennis will visit Consett market. And probably buy stuff that he thinks he might need after the holocaust. Never mind if that takes out his mind from biscuits that is absolutely fine.

At work J sent an email that cakes are available in her office and if we fancy one we can just help ourselves. J is pregnant and she said eating for two is not an option. Better grab a piece before I go to that training.

My 'Bank Holiday'

What are the things one has to do on a Bank Holiday? I did the following:

• Politely say No to invites
• Switch off mobile phone
• Compulsory to wake up late.
• Watch whatever rubbish on television. The movie Cool Runnings was on. I don't consider that rubbish.
• Watch Veronica Mars, General Hospital and a Maalaala Mo Kaya episode on You Tube.
• Wash hair and let it dry naturally and watch hair really grow big as it dries.
• Make a list of thing you should have done and get depressed for not doing them.
• Pester husband to take photos of yourself (see photos below)

Flaming Nora!!!

This is just to echo Lin's tribute to Michael Phelps. Lin is my online buddy in Multiply. Okay all together now drool ;-)

Weekender Quote

We grabbed a cup of green tea after grabbing books at Borders. I was reading this magazine and this quote grabbed my attention:

"Better to keep one's mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt"

I rest my case.

Have a great weekend everyone!!

Men: I paid for their services

D (My Hairdresser)

Married and with one child. He is a towering, orange very well dressed metro sexual specimen. He even admitted that he has Botox every six months. I normally take a two hour lunch break for a hair cut thinking that two hours is long enough. No- not with D – he loves to talk and talk he does. I move my appointments now to Saturdays and D can talk for England without me worrying if the office had sent out a search party.

A (My Dentist)

He is the boy next door type: very good looking in his designer stubble; distressed jeans and embellished t-shirts. First time I met my dentist I asked myself should I trust him? He is too good looking to be a dentist (no offence meant). He should be modelling a certain brand of men’s under things.

I still dread dentist appointments although I find it amusing every time he says: “Right Mrs Twort would you like to lie down and open up please?”

T (My Driving Instructor)

He is married with three children. He is a keen gardener and a passionate golfer. A golfer.. hmm is that the reason why he teams his jeans and nubuck loafer shoes with pastel coloured (pink has not made an appearance yet) polo shirts.? Not bad though.

His patient understanding and good humour certainly help me go through my silly and OTT oh my God we are going to die type of experience while doing my lessons.

These men are costly. They get a substantial chunk out from my take home pay.

I see A twice a year; D every two months and T – once a week for almost a year now.

On Learning to be Filipino

Saturday was a wash out (yes again) and Dennis and I decided to have a very late breakfast (brunch as the posh term). I opened the blinds in the sitting room window and we sat and sipped cups and cups of green tea. We watched Team GB got it first gold.

Then talk went from glad I have done the washing and only the ironing to do; oh this is nice just staying in and chilling to what should we have for dinner and then to this is like a weather in the Philippines and I am sure UK will be growing Palm trees come spring.

Hmm, so I asked Dennis you are now living with a Filipina for almost ten years. Have you learned how to be Filipino? After a long pause (Dennis has now learned that he has to pause and ponder before giving a reply straightaway)

Dennis learns that:

• Not all that stinks in the fridge is off
• Never throw anything away
• A hungry Filipina is an angry Filipina
• You marry a Filipina you marry the family (not literally though Babes so stop ogling my sister!)
• Washing dishes is a long-winded (but hygienic I may say) affair (scrape left over, rinse, soap and then rinse again)
• Talking and eating go hand in hand and sometimes choking too
• Saying goodbyes in parties may take another hour or so
• Travelling is never light (for me anyway)
• I could talk to family for an hour over the phone and when he asked any news? I say uh, Nothing

Not an exhaustive list and it may not sound very flattering but hey Dennis is married to this Filipina!!

By the way for the life of me I cannot remember what we had for dinner last Saturday!!!

8/08/08

What did you do on the eight day of the eight month of the eight year of the millenium?

Nothing special really.

• I was on my own in the office. There are six of us in the section and all of them are off for some reason or the other. So I think I am lucky in a way ;-).
• Dennis took me out for tea and hey we occupied Table 8.
• I watched the replay of the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games in Beijing (the ceremony even started at 8.00 pm China time)
• I loaded the washing machine.
• I tidied the week's mess around the house.
• I read a bit.
• Now I am typing this blog.

Brief Encounter

Last year I reconnected with a long lost friend. I was very pleased to have the communication lines re opened.

Then nothing.

Do we reconnect to disconnect? Or we disconnect to look forward to being reconnected?

Backyard Poetry

This was a surprise the other day. Flower from nowhere in full bloom just outside the shed. What comes to mind? Philosophical stuff like: grow where you are planted; beauty amidst adversity blah, blah, blah...

Flower in the crannied wall,

I pluck you out of the crannies,

Hold you here, root and all, in my hand,

Little flower – but if I could understand

What you are, root and all, and all in all,

I should know what God and man is.

ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON