i miss little miss ana

i just miss my funny, free-spirited and talented one and only sister.

i could use some of her energy in the house right now.


***

adrian and i loved it when she was here.

she just fitted in, like she lived here for ages. in the country, and in our home.

i cant wait to have her again in 2012.

by then, id be energised to do alot of the beautiful things i was surrounded by when she was here: make-up, photography, theatre, dressing-up, museum trawling, bookstore hopping, stationary smooching, and food feasting.

im so excited with the thought of surrounding myself with those girly luxuries when she's here.

*praying to heavens*


***


{photo: thats her, Ana, just outside our favourite Fortnum and Mason store..after that,we had Knickerbocker glory ice cream in their parlour and a mini shop of a book she found (which she left here by the way)...its nice to have a sister who's such an individual and so different from you, yet so much the same as well}

missing moments with her

someone asked me where i get the energy to listen to people's aggros and problems and make them laugh.

in truth, i do have that energy because there is someone in my life, who listens to my shallowness, my whines, and very own aggravation.

my best friend, Kharla.

she listens to my dramas, my problems (true and self-inflicted,haha) without any judgement ,with all ears, also in the end she prays with/and for me.

in other words, she is my shrink. by being so, she gives me all the energy (and sanity) to cope with homesickness and some more extra.

so having her here in my house as my treat was nothing to me. it was nothing for the big and great things this woman has done for me.

i miss her. and i look forward when she could come back and i could treat her special once again.


***



waiting for the train

another train ride with the best friend i am lucky to have been given

the day we saw the Pope..

**

do you miss your best friend?

stories untold

one day, i will write my story.

some chapters i have deleted here for now, because they're delicate and the writer still fragile to be asked about them.

right now, lets just say, i'm in some weird hazy planet and i'm stuck there for the meantime.

the light is near,to get to that light is quite a journey (not without hissy fits, bruising and crying..and doctor's appointments,crazy schedules, overfilled diaries,and ginormous love-hate moments with the ever understanding husband).


i know when i've crossed the bridge, i will be a better woman for it all.

one day i will write these chapters.


my story.

birthday celebrations

every year, i find birthday celebrations quite redundant.

dont get me wrong, i find that mine or my love one's birthdays are one of my most favourite days of the year, but celebrating it is sometimes a dilemma as you have so many friends and as much as you want to celebrate it with all of them, trying to squeeze everyone in for your birthday date has to be arranged 3 months in advance.

that pressures me to arrange something 3 months before, which i find too boring when celebrating birthdays. birthday parties should be (if you must, but not necessarily) spontaneous, and requires less arranging if you have to have one.

more often than not, Adrian and i celebrate birthdays with just the very immediate of his family and or very closest (who might be busy too).


this year, i had the stress-free thought that my birthday is just me, Adrian and a very special family member Kharla.

initially, the plan was to spend it in a cottage somewhere in the middle of the country, together with good friends Cheryl and Glen, but they were in Brussels the time we planned the cottage holiday. (not to mention i was doing a research in the middle of it all) so that plan was scrapped.


the next best thing to do was to have the celebration with just the three of us in london in the usual way, a nice dinner in one of our favourite restaurants and a show too.


Adrian booked the Mamma Mia musical for the three of us on the Saturday (a day before my bithday), and a dinner at San Francesco--one of the best Italian resto's in London (a must try) just near the Westend..


And the next day, we spent another dinner in one of the INdian resto's locally after a (rainy) day in Maldon estuary to do some sightseeing for our very special guest.


Here are some photos from my canon compact (i couldt bring an SLR to the show) to remind me of the days...






just before we started..this was how close we were..=)

she's excited to see her first Westend show. (and it wont be her last, i promised her)




squirming in her seat from the cold

during the intermission..grabbing soem drinks at the lobby

mr. and mrs. shot

the birthday made special because she was there=)

having some ice cream

the ending of the show

i did this discreetly. i was still approached by one of the attendants (*ulk*)

by the billboard...it was so sunny on that saturday

suroy suroy around shaftsbury avenue

the obligatory touristy stops..chinatown

on the way to covent garden..we bumped into a happy group of hen partygoers

they were enjoying too much, i must say

at Covent garden, the square...

watching the show down below

the greatest friend anyone could wish for

two of my greatest allies..=)

birthday girl..=)

listening to Adrian's silly stories

how was the calamaris?

tiny restaurant..cozy,and owned by a proper italian gentleman

the rule is: no digging in, before the shot=)

kharla's order: pasta in white wine sauce




by leicester square...the temperature getting too cold at this time.

we all love the National Gallery..its such a beautiful building, dont you agree?

there was something going on in Trafalgar square the next day

coffee break and people watching at a coffee shop across Trafalgar Square before we head home:-)

**

the only evidence of the next night..after a tour around maldon estuary and got drenched in the rain...


we had dinner at an Indian restaurant...our favourite Masala Hut..





she enjoyed her first authentic indian/punjabi meal..

bless, look at our drenched faces.haha..

***

our friends cheryl and glen were booked to see us that same week for another night of wine and food to celebrate my birthday and for them to officially meet Kharla, but then the next day after my birthday, we found out Glen had a heart attack.

Kharla had to meet my best buddies in the hospital.

i was so sad because of Glen's illness, but thankfully, he's had an op and it was successful.

its a happy birthday overall =)

there are not enough hours

...to do all the things i want to do in my day.

if i could switch research and reading academic books to blogging i would. but i cant. (for now).


i feel cruel, to say the least, when i look at this online journal i call my blog, and that the last update was in a different month.


the most recent notable thing that happened to me was my birthday. (dont ask how old i am, i stopped counting at 26).

[the weird part,i also have to pause to really think of my real age. for now, my mom is the only person who knows it, but she's on good stipend to keep mum on it, and its stipulated on our contract to never give it away,haha]. *joke*


before i digress even further, the recent birthday was really a beautiful one. because it was the one, in the last 7 years which i spent with Adrian and someone from my family. since i moved to this country i have been celebrating my birthdays with newly-formed friendships,and new acquaintances (not bad either), as all my love ones are back home. (although, not to discount the fact, my husband,Adrian is always there, he also realises that i crave that familial ties on birthdays).


this year was different. my cousin Karla and my bestest friend in the planet flew all the way from cebu for it. we started celebrating on a Saturday (my birthday was on the Sunday), with a show at the Westend. Mamma Mia was a great show. It was a treat from Adrian, and a dinner at one of our fave Italian near Drury Lane, San Francesco's. Then on a rainy windy Sunday, celebrated with mass, a birthday brunch and a tour around Maldon estuary.

On the saturday celebration, the three of us enjoyed Mamma Mia, and the dinner, not to mention the late night walkabout Trafalgar square and Victoria. London was abuzz that night, amidst the chilly wind.


We got home just before midnight. And by midnight, i was handed a really special present from all my family.


It was in DVD form. And i was truly chuffed to say the least.


My sister edited the video (hurriedly) i might add, to send to me,just before Karla was leaving for the UK.


its such a beautiful birthday present. The humor, and love, i could feel from it so abundantly.

***

Starring:

Mama, Jojo my brother), Roi (brother), Joan and Sean (cousin/cousin-in-law), AUntie Libeth and Uncle Victor, Tonyrose (cousin), Tita Tootsie, Suzette, Auntie Teresa, RUby and Ana..and Bob (the dog).

Birthday video , birthday gift from my family (2010) from chelo aviso-stevart on Vimeo.

***

thank you's are very much in call for:

Aileen Siroy- for that beautiful birthday blog..and to be amongst your friends who are such admirable people, i feel like im not worthy to be amongst them in the same page. (but so privileged to be).Thanks Ai.. Your friendship and love, i will treasure and take care forever=)

Therese Habana- the phonecalls to greet me (at 3 am UK time!,haha)..greatly appreciated and much adored. And to hear Mr. Habana (who was a classmate in HS of mine) greet me was such bonus=) I still had to pinch myself thats it indeed the two of you together. Beautiful tandem you two=)

Lynette- beautiful postcards from her part of the world and a card. How awesome to be remembered that way? Thank you Nette, you definitely are not only thoughtful, you have a very sensitive and loving soul..=)

Multiply, Twitter and FB messages- thank you from the very bottom of my heart . Waking up to birthday messages are such wonderful platform to spring from.

***

Thank you, all of you, for making this girl a happy bunny:-)

..and speaking of

..dolphins.


i just thought i want to share this...






...lets help save the dolphins.


*from elephants,to dolphins..i wonder,what i'll talk about next..* :-)

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

dearest

(i wonder what i was thinking here...was the view nice? i doubt it. its soho downstairs for crying out loud..maybe, i was too tired sitting down, and my tight trousers were already giving me a wedgy..whatever it was,it sure wasnt me, pretending to be 'candid' on a very posed photo op, of course, i wasnt! *hehe*)

***

Dear self,

"You will get by." These words carry near your heart, and carry it tight. You will get by, because we know,certain situations aren't meant to last. Such emotions are fleeting and finicky,never lasting.

You will get by. carry these words around your neck, like an armor. You will get by because we know, no amount of feeling sorry for ourselves can change the situation, nor alter your demeanor. Laugh it out if you may.

You will get by. Carry these words, hold it to your chest, like a weapon. Kill the vanity, suck the whining, and cut the ties that drag you down. Harbor disgust for anything that shouldnt be.

You will get by. carry these words, grab it and tie it to your navel. Make it part of your system, like you were born with it. Don it like your most comfortable trousers, like the best pair of shoes you always wanted. Wear it proudly.

You will get by. Carry these words close to you, and remember them, because you will. Like you always do.

You will get by.

You will.

Do not doubt it.

Love,

you.



**

damn! ive had too much chilli tonight,haha.

it was one lazy,whatever-goes saturday..well, sort of

friday night, adrian and i were too lazy to do anything after overhauling the loft (attic) as our ''day-off" chore. decluttering is one major planned activity if you live in a small space like we do here in the UK. most of our junk is in the loft, and most of my seasonal junk is in the second/guest bedroom.


after having takeaways for the night, we decided to just have takeaways and plunk in the front room and watch mindnumbing television (like you do in hot summer nights like we have been having).

we decided wake up early the next day to go to the boot fayre (fela market) and see if we fancy anything worth getting (ironic, we just took out some junk from upstairs to buy someone else's junk,haha). [you might be happy to know,we only had donuts and coffee at the fayre as it was too hot, and we went home for lunch and a looong nap].


Adrian woke me up at almost 5 pm in the afternoon and told me that we should get ready for dinner. I was feeling tired. It was still screaming hot outside. Plus, i didnt want to leave the coolness of our airconditioned bedroom.


In true chivalric Adrian style, he said, its too hot to even cook and said, he would take me out to the mall for some cooling down and have dinner at one of the restaurants. I was happy as i was craving for pasta the entire week.


***

in related news, i got these photos using my brand new Nikon Coolpix camera..a tiny pink coloured one.it still had a warranty and all. in our clearing up of boxes, Adrian said,he still has a brandnew camera he bought for me two christmasses ago but realised its not what i wanted (coz he heard me oohh-aahh-ing over a CanonG10 and was recommended by the Jessops seller what a great cam a G10 was), so he bought me the G10 instead (but he already bought the Coolpix one). So he planned to return the Coolpix after the new year..and forgot about it--so in short, it was never returned within its allowable period of 28 days.

another christmas has passed, its still sitting in one of his filing cabinet.

so who am i to say no to a camera??? its a dinky little 8megapixel one, but it works like magic. great for those restaurant moments, where i dont get self conscious taking pics.


photos from saturday night..using my Dinky Niki

at 830pm..the sun was shining and had no plans of leaving






in true world cup fever..





we stayed inside the airconditioned restaurant..the outside was very humid




'love long days like these




i cant be bothered putting on make up when its humid..i feel sticky and lazy..and i sweat alot..so just sunblock, first coat of mascara and a lipbalm, voila! looking like a fresh lola..(PS> ok,ok, a little erasure of my zits via Photoshop..but shush, its our secret)





my lovely husband...no photoshop required.haha





can you tell, i had a big nap? i was still feeling dazed at this time..





best paired with the italian pasta




our favourite starter.the classico..i swear, i wish they serve rice to pair off with my calamari's=)





my fave everywhere i go, i always have pasta gamberi..medium spicy too=)


**

we went home to our dessert: we had red wine and cheeses (brie, camembert ,stilton and mature cheddar) and bannofee pie paired with vanilla ice cream...and watched Alice in Wonderland DVD..

these are the best things that no money could account for.

time well spent, with just myself and the big A.