mini-dates are a lifeline

..it makes life better.

it makes relationships better.

it makes our hearts go round.

it makes us a better husband and wife team..=)


***

i took adrian to a mini date this afternoon for just a little recoupe and regrouping.

adrian and i do this regroup and reconvening away from home, away from the energy of work, and the mundane..and away from the computer, because when were at home, him and i are at our respective computers typing away (him on his work), while i, on my research (or Facebook,haha).

so today, we had a little date. not planned. not organised. just a "come,lets go, lets make an ordinary saturday evening special by chatting".

so we did.




my date




the place..cafe rouge




chatter chatter chatter





pleased missus...



***

on another note:

a few saturdays ago, i attended a first year old's birthday party. she is my grandniece Anya=)

my!! this little madam is now growing..why do i say so? she now knows she's being photographed..just look at the head tilt=)




such a tease=)..

im her grantie ragen, and adrian is the grancle=)

i dont mind being a grantie at all=)


**

have a beautiful sunday my loves.

and 7 years after..

..we still argue about how to photograph me..








and im getting fed up by it, from the looks of it...




..and on the train..thank you heavens for one-outstretched arm, to take photos using the phone..








happy 7th year dearest hubby..

you have been the best at everything, except at taking photographs..but nevertheless, you are irreplaceable=)x



****


..he apparently just needed warming up..x






**

photos from the iphone..x

no title

just me and him.

simple as that.

India looms

***

photo: my visa for india..

***

for some time, i have had reservations regarding the India trip. If you know me, one of my greatest fears is visa applications anywhere in the world.

ive always find applying for one such a nerve wracking exercise, no matter what country you're applying to especially if you have committed to alot of people and being denied one always means disappointing the people you comitted to.

i always associate my visa fears to some traumatic experiences in the past. one is the last application for my sister's and my brother's visa to come and visit me in this country. it was longwinded and just too much bureaucracy. i know we all have to do it, but if you know in your heart these people arent intending to stay in the country they're visiting and still get such treatment like an illegal immigrant, its so frustrating to say the least.


but thats not my biggest visa story. There was one application in July 2005.

My cousin Joan was getting married in August that year, and she was so sweet, she moved her wedding to August, instead of their original plan so i could attend the wedding since i intended to come home that month.

Adrian and i almost were not given the visa/stamp. We were told that i lacked 1 document, (for the year 2004) even if i have given them all my payslips in all the months of 2004, and all addressed to the same address as that of Adrian's (we were living together after all,LOL).


I was quite upset because i had all documents except just 1 minor one (a utility bill) that i lacked because i thought i have given more than enough documentation and proof.


But the man wasnt satisfied. he said he couldnt justify that Adrian and i lived together and are living as Man and wife without that gas bill under my name in year 2004. (apparently they wanted 3 utility bills, i only gave two and a handful of bank statements and the whole year of payslips which were all under the same address).


If he had some common sense, he would know we were genuine. But of course, they are very bookish, and they stick to certain rules that they need to follow and boxes to tick.

We pleaded and asked him to please just stamp the visa, and that we have a wedding to attend in Cebu the week after and i wont be able to come back to the UK if the stamp isnt given to me, as my old visa will expire.

He wouldnt have it.

You know what happened next?


It was the first time i saw Adrian tearfully pleading to anyone a man at that and pleaded with him. My heart just leaped and felt sooo sorry for him. Here was my husband who is a well respected instructor, who has pride and self-respect, would plead to man (tearfully) and begging him to consider. (it makes me tearful everytime i remember that moment).

This was happening infront of a queue of people, who could see what he and i were doing as our voices were getting louder as the man was behind a glass enclosure.

I felt sorry for Adrian and my heart just got so crushed seeing my husband like that, who i know would never do that to anyone, but he did so that time, because HE WANTED ME TO STAY in the country.

What did i do?

I scooped the semi kneeling Adrian and hugged him (i didnt care what people thought, to hell with them that time), and i said to him "honey, you didnt need to do that.you dont need to kneel down and beg anyone for my sake.. dont worry, i will just phone Joan and tell her we cant go home as i need time to process my residency. i know she will understand", and gave the man behind the counter a dagger look. Adrian wouldnt have it as he feels letting Joan down, and the option would be to let me go home and stay for a few months while sorting the permit to come back which could take months or a year!

I eventually convinced him by telling him, id rather risk the ire of my family than leaving him on his own and not be able to come back for a time just so i could sort the visa. (i knew Joan would have understood).

I hugged Adrian (i was also crying this time) and told him were leaving and didnt give the man behind the counter any courtesy as he felt he didnt deserve it.


We went out, and just by the exit area, the security guard called us back. And we were asked to go to a different desk. The man who served us was there waiting for us, and said "look, im not supposed to give you a consideration like this, but how can you get me the document within today?".

as we live just under an hour away from Croydon we told the man we could get the document within two hours, he gave us a special pass to go and come back the very same day (not a usual happening apparently).

i dont know what changed his mind, but i have realised that once we stop bending over and foregoing our principles for the sake of bureucracy, things can still go our way.

Adrian and i did our part, the hell would i let my husband ask and beg for my sake and humiliate himself? I didnt have the heart to see him do that.

But after the incident the man saw beyond what alot of people only see, the age, culture and color difference,it all means nothing. Not when love is involved.

So visa and visa applications, theyre tricky. people who have the power to stamp your passports do not only need the basic intelligence to read your documents and applications, but also the common sense to read what goes on infront of them.


***

i am getting all emotional writing this down. its another humbling reminder how such one person love me to bits. and a beautiful reminder that i love him back.

with all my heart. fiercely.


***

im tagging you to write a moment in your life where love has more than proven itself to you.

you, who care to share.

***

[edit: i am going to india to photograph my friend's wedding and his brother's wedding, and a few days to go around see some sights..and on the way back to the UK, a stopover for a few days in Dubai to see friends..*excited*].

its valentines day

and i thought we were just watching dvd and a nice meal indoors.

its still very chilly outside so we are snuggled up in the front room watching a romantic dvd (oh the cheese, he has to put up with with me).

just when we paused the dvd for a tea break, he came back bearing flowers, a present and a (sweet) card.

and what does he get from me? an e card! a blog entry e-card,LOL..(well, there was the surprise homemade dinner (and the heart-shaped mashed potatoes,LOL, and the dvd.LOL).


tomorrow, we are off to london for a 'meal'...and a suroy-suroy...we dont do valentines, really, we dont.

its just one of those days, na timing lang.

well ok. we do.


for now, at least.

his birthday in pictures

thrusday night..28th of january



dinner at an oriental restaurant...with the bro and sis in law..(sorry, it was the waiter who took the photo)




indian restaurant this time ...friday night..




we love our indian food




group pic




and a karaoke party at tash's..saturday night..not part of his birthday celebration but it turned out that way, lol..

mika missing + birthday excitement

*photo of myself and my cute niece Mika*



i really miss this babe..

i kept watching her video tucked nicely in my digicam. i have not downloaded it yet.

knowing my luck with computers, i just want it to be safe without getting it lost.



***

im supposed to be tucked in bed nicely right now, but not yet.

im secretly plotting my surprise to adrian tomorrow.

im also wrapping his presents (2 new books, which he wanted to buy for a long time but he couldnt be bothered to order).

ohhhh, i love birthdays..

especially those birthdays of people i love.

a day off for my man

today i was told i shouldnt come in to the prison because theyre finishing off some requirements i need before i can do one-on-one client contact.

{UK prisons and hospitals are so particular with the safety of staff and inmates/patients}


so what am i to do?


go and grab the opportunity to go get something for Adrian, who is celebrating his birthday this week (28th).


here are some pics from the most generous man i know...

photos taken from the recent christmas fairies giftgiving at St.Johns community (december 2009)..

(PS: i still we all the fairies a report from the giftgiving...i will , promise!)
















it will be difficult to get something for someone who is always so giving of himself to me and my family,and to all those i love.

let me tell you

...about Adrian.

about how thankful i am to him.

about how special he makes me feel, and my family too...

and even if he says "dont go talking mush about me on your blogs" i know he says that with a smile and a blush..

i need to write it here..because there are days he can be a pain in the bum too (lol), and i will just read this and remember that he is after all, a big soft bear...



-he wrote (and pestered) our MP-

to sort out Ana's and Roi's visa because of the sham that happened in the application (they, the people in the embassy in manila, wrongly thought that Ana and Roi were husband and wife..even with all the documents both provided to apply, birth certificate and all).

Adrian wrote quite an impressionable letter to our Member of parliament ( our version of Congressman/ who represents the people under the region they represent) and pointed out how unjust, that they turn down genuine tourists (by not reading the application properly).



-he arranged for my family to go to certain parts of the country/and at least 3x weekly London trips to maximise their stay.

he finds it amusing that my mother almost always refuses the trips we offer to London as she hates walking. (tsk,tsk,tsk..all that commuting in cabs and jeepneys Mams, does not help here..London is a 'walking' destination).

he came home one day,to find Roi, Ana,mom and i, huddled watching tv in the front room, and wondered why we didnt go to London as he planned. i told him the reason: they found it too cold that day. he laughed and could not believe we prefer 'staying in' than 'going out'. (well, between 'ice cold chill' and 'warm cozy home', we prefer the latter).



- the day my laptop died (after buying the 'plug-in' internet, after days of no internet), has made me so depressed. i shed a few tears, (it was panic about some albums of photos i left there, which i have not moved to my external harddrive yet *stupid me!*, and assignments looming without a laptop),too saddend about the death of my precious laptop.

at the dinner table with Mama, he mentioned casually, that i should not be too depressed about my laptop and said that "who knows, its time to get a Macbook"..

my mama laughed when she saw my worried look, because i didnt want Adrian to give up on my laptop. it was barely 3 years old. everything was tiptop shape, and i had retrievables on it. photos which i needed (badly). my laptop was in perfect condition (if i have not overcharged it 24 hours 7 days a week,and without turning off) it might have survived. the symptoms of overheating was there. i was just plain stubborn and careless.



-every morning,he doesnt want to wake me up for him to go to work. (for those who dont know, im on leave from work; so i could concentrate on touring guests and university work). i always wake up to prepare his stuff, but he tells me to go to bed. i occasionally take his advise but normally around 4 out of 5 times, i'd jump out from bed and take the opportunity to have a morning 'chat' over his breakfast and my coffee..




-he keeps telling my family how wonderful his life has been eversince we have been together..every single day.



-last night, everyone was watching this dancing program on tv where a woman wore a sexy dance outfit, and i blurted out ,"gosh, i want to be able to wear that...well, i am allowed to, but im sure, it wouldnt have that same effect".

everyone laughed but he hugged me and kissed my forehead "i wouldn't want to change a single thing about you".


and that my dears, made me feel, like i am the cat that got the cream...and the cherry on top.



..and that the excuse to diet tomorrow, is officially postponed indefinitely,lol.

sais

6 years.

thats what we will be on the second of this month (august).

i almost forgot.

almost. but i will never.

every single day that i wake up beside you, i will be reminded of that date, i surrendered myself to a lifetime of mutual love and respect and admiration.

you, the best person who knows me. or actually, you are catching up now with kharla.

we both know, our marriage is unlike any other because of the age gap, two cultures and different upbringing, but really, a lifetime of deciphering the other is enough excitement to keep us both glued to this commitment we sealed on the fateful day.

are you still with me?

wait, dont answer that question.

i know the truth.

its in the surrendering silence you give me when i am being a spoilt unreasonable brat, or the rolling of your eyes when i nag you to put suncream every single day (and even in winter). its the laugh you give when i say something "unlady-like" or its the way you wake me up if i fall asleep in the middle of a movie.and its the pretend calm in your voice but the wild panic in your eyes, assuring me "everything's ok", when you drove me to the hospital when i had an allergy attack.

ours is not a textbook romance. not at all.

thats why these 6 years have been the most brutally honest, and the most exhilirating experience i could ever imagine.

i can't believe i have been this lucky.


* * *

i promised to not embarass you with "i love you's" in my blog anymore..so here's being mushy without saying those words.

now, your turn.

la la la la la la la means

i love you...



* * *

this photo exemplifies "all form and no substance"..i wish he could learn photography. i have no patience to teach him. and he seems not interested.

i am longing for the day that he would whip out the second cam and say, "hold that pose!".

but it doesnt matter, he is loved no matter what.


* * *

did my friends tell you im corny when im in love?

photo: adrian in his second job as a photography assistant.

pampered

im ill today.

i have flu. *insert sad face*

its not that bad, but its just a pain to me enjoying my bank holiday monday.

have been feeling aches and pain and terrible migraines (too much tiredness), that im falling asleep everywhere.

i was trying to work with the symptoms, but last night,it caught up with me.

the moment i got home, i was asleep and even adrian said, it took him a long time to wake me up (he gave me flu capsules).

today he asked me, while im in my pyjamas watching tv, what i want to eat. i have been craving for barbeque.

guess what i have for dinner...







i definitely am pampered to bits.

and im milking it.