The Good The Bad and The Ugly

The Good

Newcastle – Amsterdam – Manila flight went without a hitch. In flight food was fantastic although I still cannot figure it out why at 2.00 am they either served ice cream or pot noodle? In flight movies were brilliant. Outbound I watched (again) Dark Knight, Mama Mia, Devil Wears Prada, Indiana Jones Part 4, and Happy Feet; coming back I watched Wall E; Journey Towards the Centre of the Earth (cheesiest movie ever), Wanted and first half of Ghostown.

I had the aisle seat and two gentlemen were next to me. I thought this is okay since men (probably a generalisation) do not really need the toilet that much. I was wrong. I went thrice; they went several times.

I arrived Manila on time and even though Immigration took ages I was calm because when I texted auntie fe she was already outside waiting for me ;-).

The heat that hit me when I went out from the terminal was overpowering. Thank God auntie fe’s car is air conditioned!!

I had a two hour sleep before auntie fe and I attended mass and then dinner at Max’s Chicken – hmm sarap to the bones.

Arrived Ozamiz on the 10^th Feb – I was really tired but just too excited to meet the family. Okay excited at the same time apprehensive because there will be a lot of firsts in this visit: first time I will see the house after its completion 5 years ago and first time I will stay in the family home. I had been away for a long time and we do not have that much interaction anymore so we lack practice.

But everything turned out well. Discussions were open and frank; transparency was seen as a positive move and acceptance and forgiveness were being forged. We have not solved the problem of the world but we are getting there.

Even my mom had accepted the fact that her daughter (me) is an obsessive compulsive freak and therefore clearing and cleaning is second nature to her!! Off the plastic bottles and fly went old calendars and magazines a

First Monday of my visit was mom’s birthday. We had lunch in a restaurant in the main city and I ordered a birthday cake made of chocolate and covered in chocolate shavings.

My mom’s garden was superb. I love the way plants are allowed to grow “wherever”, no rhyme no reason no rules. I like the interplay of colours of yellow, orange and white and pink and green.

I look forward to our meals- all home cooked: fresh fish, salad na guso or lato, fried mussels and vegetable soup – kalami jod sa kalamunggay!! Coming back I just realised that I have not eaten lechon. But why go for lechon when fish either gi un unan or sinigang are available. The linung-ag nga saging dipped in anchovy sauce – I can still taste it!!

I enjoy reconnecting with former work colleagues and friends. They have not changed; I have not changed – only they have grown up kids either finishing high school or starting University. My friends are parents who are unfazed by demands of parenthood. We were having dinner and Sheila’s phone rang. Her son needed a pair of red gloves for a school activity the next day.

Sheila was fuming: “Asa man ko ma kakuha ug red gloves at 8.00 pm?!!”

The Bad

The heat as I’ve said was too much. I sweat (okay perspire) after a shower. Coping mechanism was bad. For four days I was ill and useless. I whinged and moaned and became a cry baby. I checked in a local hotel with my mom and Jalyn and gulped painkillers and antibiotics. After four days my ears were ringing because of too much medication but I feel a lot better.

The heat did not help with the trips I had to make. Even the 30 minute drive to Ozamiz was a struggle. How much more the 4 hour trip to Cagayan?

I am old my body complains.

I stayed with my aunt in Manila three days before my flight back . The travelling made me edgy and anxious. From Roxas Boulevard (where my aunt lives) to Malate; from Roxas Boulevard to Makati ; from Roxas Boulevard to NAIA.

The Ugly

Stranded in Amsterdam airport for 12 hours!!

Due to runway closure in Amsterdam the plane arrived in Manila late therefore we arrived in Amsterdam late. I missed my connecting flight. My flight was rebooked for Friday at 8.55 am therefore I have a 12 hour wait in an empty airport.

Shops were closed (to Dennis delight ;-) and restaurants were closing. I ate Goldilocks Polvoron and Buttered Macaroons and drank two bottles of water for 12 hours!!