Missing Beaches

On our way to church this morning, we can't help but notice that Autumn is fast approaching for familiar "autumn" leaves are all over the place. I forgot to bring a camera so I've got nothing to share for now. Hmm, a brand new season for us to experience ... we wonder how we'll adjust. Has it started already with my one-week old wind-burn? I've been going to the office with lips full of vaseline, I know that's not a very good sight but who cares! I just hope it gets healed soon.

On the other hand, this also means that summer has probably started in the Philippines! I remember we used to plan for summer outing with friends for it was always fun to visit places with company. Here are a few snapshots of what we visited in the last few years.

And just with these photos, I'm suddenly missing the beaches there now ... and I admit I miss the company of old friends too! Oh well, we can only find ways on how to get over it ... try to go to one of the Northern Beaches perhaps before Autumn really takes over? Let's see next weekend.

Overnight Guest

Our dinner guest, Ninong A, was able to move his flight back home to Adelaide to Saturday so he came back on Friday to spend the night in our humble home. Both the husband and I were very happy specially since our lounge had just been delivered the same week too, which meant we had something better than the floor to offer haha.



He arrived at our place after an hour and a half drive from the airport area, he said traffic was terrible, uh-oh. Everyone was probably going to the Northern beaches for the weekend!

Anyway, our mini-cheese platter came to the rescue for he said it was his weakness! We "cleaned up" the 3 opened wine bottles (Shiraz, Late Picked and the Rose') from the fridge while I was chopping the ingredients for the Thai chicken curry the guest had volunteered (?) to cook for us. We opened a Yalumba Vintage Viognier for dinner and we finished them too! It's amazing how we can drink wines now, I guess company and non-stop chatting made it easier for us :) We stayed in the balcony after dinner and the breeze was just perfect. We enjoyed it so much we didn't notice it was midnight ... time to clean-up the kitchen and go to bed.

In the morning, after breakfast we went gallivanting in the city. The husband and I saw some places for the first time -- China Town where we had yum cha (dimsim) lunch, Potts Point and King's Cross. I was the assigned navigator and that wasn't fun and easy, but we survived! Then at mid afternoon, we sent him off to the airport.

Ninong, it was nice having you here! We hope you enjoyed as much as we did. See you again in a couple of weeks -- if not, see you in Adelaide in April!

OZ Language 101

Australians love to shorten everything and they create their own vocabulary and phrases too. Here are some we've learned over time:

Barbie - short for barbecue party. Traditionally, the guys barbecue sausages, chicken, lamb, beef while they talk about cricket or tennis or the latest sports news over beer. The ladies prepare the rest of the meal - salads/coleslaw, side dishes, dessert, set the table and clean up afterwards.

Esky - the OZ version of "cooler", an insulated ice chest to hold tinnies.

Tinny - usually refers to a can of beer.

Lollies - candies, chocolates, sweets

Mackies - Mc Donalds

Serviette - table napkins

Pav - short for pavlova. The merengue dessert, topped with cream, passionfruit, berries and other fresh fruit in season.

Hello, how are you? - usual greeting for everyone - family/friends/office colleagues/acquaintances/cashier/train mates and sometimes even strangers. It is just polite to answer that and greet them back.

Your shout! - Buy me a drink! Don't ever accept a shout unless you intend to make your shout soon after.

No worries. - the OZ version of "You're Welcome" when someone says "Thank You".

Dinner Guest

We had a dinner guest tonight in the person of our godfather - Uncle A. He lives in Adelaide but he is in Sydney for a week's work and we planned to have dinner together tonight. We didn't expect that he was willing to come all the way to our place for dinner so when he told me that he was driving to our place for dinner, it was a bit of a surprise. It turned out to be a good idea after all.

We were home a bit earlier than usual today - 10 mins before 6pm. And the visitor arrived 40mins later, it just took him 35mins from the Sydney CBD to here, which is good.

We had the all-time safe-recipe Filipino dinner -- baked oysters, pork spareribs adobo and steamed peas and corn on the side. We also popped open the Rose' wine that we got from Hunter Valley. The box of chocolates in the fridge (2months old Xmas present) came in handy for dessert. Everything went well and we'd like to believe he enjoyed dinner as much as we did.

After that, we had a nice chit-chat on the balcony where the breeze was not so cold but just right and comfortable.

It was a good first experience after all. We're starting to entertain -- which is healthy and good (could be bad?)! He promised to try to stay longer the next time he visits -- probably for a night. Looking forward to that!

Lucky Winner!

We received a post yesterday from the private health fund, we signed up with last month, informing us that we are one of the lucky winners in the raffle draw to win a summer sports pack! Yippee! They said the prize will be delivered via registered post within 28 days and will include:

- Wilson tennis racquet
- Puma Foundation back pack
- Puma baseball cap
- Puma mini soccer ball
- Puma sweatbands
- Four tennis balls
- 750ml water bottle

Wow, what a good news! Now, was it a "not-so-subtle" way of telling us to get fit and healthy?! Hmmm ...

Mother dearest, Happy Birthday!

In this most trying time of your life, we join you in seeking for God's blessing of complete healing against the Big C. He is the greatest Healer and He knows all our hearts' desires. Let us continue to believe that He has a big plan for us for He has entrusted us with a big cross to carry.

On top of this, we wish you all the happiness and love that we can bring to you, as well as all the thoughts, care and support that all your friends, family, office mates and even acquaintances can show you. For you continue to be an inspiration not just to everyone else who are burdened with the same sickness but to all of us who snap easily with the simplest non-sense inconveniences in life.

As you celebrate your 54th birthday, blow all your worries and anxieties away and let us all embrace the blessings that we see around us with great faith and trust in God. Keep in mind Mom, that you are the strongest and bravest person we've ever known. We continue to believe that we'll get thru this together as a family and we'll never ever leave you alone. We love you mom and we wish you more wonderful years to come!

-- from your kids down under

Kitchen Teamwork

The husband and I stayed back at the office a few minutes later than usual today. So we arrived home around 6:30pm rather than the usual 6:00pm. Since we each had different agenda after dinner, I asked the husband if he can help me prepare dinner and he was very open about the idea (read by common friends as he didn't have a choice).

The husband took care of the pizza (white pizza, half plain, half w/ mushroom) and I took care of the beef tacos. While pizza was being baked, the mini-dining table was set and wine was poured and in less than 30minutes, voila, dinner was ready! The pizza was yum, very close to the Sbarro white cheese pizza I've been missing for months! The secret was the marinated feta cheese that we got from our trip to Hunter Valley last month. The husband loved the tacos, as always, although we've ran out of fresh tomatoes as additional garnish.

After dinner, both of us are happy, for the husband can now watch "Beyond Tomorrow" and I can now do my "internet"ing. :)

I'd say, good work for both of us (clap, clap)! I look forward to more teamwork in the kitchen! (hmm, I wonder if husband feels the same)

Life's Different Hats

I was able to catch up with a cousin today thru the very reliable Yahoo! Messenger. After the usual Hi's, Hello's, How are you's, and What's Up, I learned that her mom (my mom's younger sister) has accompanied my mom to her check-up in Manila this week. {Mom is receiving chemotherapy treatments.}

I was happy to hear that because I know Mom needs all the support she can get to boost her faith in God and in finding reasons to continue to fight for life. I can imagine them talk non-stop about their childhood memories ... how they washed dishes together, swam in the river together, how they would avoid being hit/scolded by their very strict "tatang" ... they reminisce and even talk about who their childhood playmates married! I know this because I've heard them talk non-stop one time during our trip from Manila to the province (5 hours!).

They have obviously grown close together and I am thankful that my aunt has made herself available for mom even during this difficult time. She obviously has not thrown her "sister hat".

Not all of us today understand the different roles we play in our lives, the different "hats" we have to wear. Most of the time, we only play the role at hand and forget that we still have other roles in life waiting to be played.

Today, I'm reminding myself that I am not only a wife to my husband, but I am also a child to my parents, a sister to my siblings, a niece to my aunts/uncles, an aunt to my nieces/nephew, a cousin to my cousins, a friend to my friends. I should be more sensitive to their needs, know when to catch up and know better than tell them life's okay for "okay" does not say it all. Today, I'm reminding myself to give time for each of the hats, whether old or new, for they are there waiting to be picked up and worn again. Today, I'm reminding myself to be like my aunt, ready when my loved ones need me even before they ask.

Boxes!

These BOXES are keeping us busy these past few days. Our shipment has finally arrived at our door (after almost two months!). This means more work as we need to unpack -- again! By the way, the picture is just one-third of the total number of boxes - the others were left out due to security reasons ;)

As we opened the boxes, we were happy to find some familiar items! Shoes, bags, albums, CDs, the husband's toys - audio equipments & comics, cookwares - rice cooker, pressure cooker, steamer (oh no, this time no excuses for not cooking!). They got us so excited but some made me wonder why I even bothered shipping them over like old tupperwares haha! Well, most of them are good stuff so it was still worth it, I think. We've been unpacking but those we don't find a need in the near future stay in the boxes. We've made very good progress I think, as we are now only left w/ the clothes boxes.

How we wish we sent more though -- like boxes of Purefoods corned beef, Century Spicy Tuna, Instant Pancit Canton and Champorado. Hehe.