Christmas celebration 2010

24 Dec - Christmas eve dinner with my Beaumaris Community Baptist Church family

Veggie salad I bought to the dinner

Thai chicken wings I made.

'Loved the table decor!

This was taken after the dinner, hence the almost empty food plates.

Opening of the gifts.

Everyone seems to be happy.

More laughter...

They're laughing at the emcee, the very manly Rupert, who got an eye shadow set!

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25 Dec - Christmas lunch with Ate Rose's family

Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree....

Arrangements courtesy of Ate Rose.

Santa the cupcake! Made my Ate Rose's eldest daughter, Pamela.

Ate Rose's family, (L-R) Elaine, Chris (her bf), another Chris (Pamela's bf), Pamela and Ate Rose. Unfortunately, Ate Rose's husband wasn't in Perth on Christmas day.

The Madeley Girls.

(Madeley is the name of Ate Rose's suburb.)

Myself and Elaine making pa-cute!

Christmas lunch 2010

My cubicle-mate, Riccardo. He replaced Bill when the latter transferred to another jurisdiction.

Peter, one of the most beautiful people at work. He's a good friend of Bill.

Who's arm is that????? hehe.

Notice my and Bill's eyeglasses. :0) Irene, our librarian.

(L-R) Karen, my former manager who transferred to another agency two weeks ago. Mathab and another Karen.

(L-R) David, trying to scare the photographer! Mathab, who owns the camera and she served as the unofficial photographer. Mark, our executive officer.

evaluation

I just had a meaningful performance evaluation with my executive manager (let’s call him Mr. M) and you know what? In my 12 years experience working for different managers sa kanya lang ako nakaranas na magkaroon ng productive performance evaluation. Actually he is not my line manager but the manager of the managers. He’s not supposed to be conducting my performance evaluation but since my section doesn’t have a manager at the moment, I report directly to him. We’ve only been working together for two weeks but I can already say that he is a good man, a godly man even.

Yesterday, when we had our section’s Christmas lunch, magkatabi sa upuan si Mr. M at si Bill. Yes, my section still invited Bill kahit matagal na syang wala dito. Kanun ka-“loved” ang mokong! And since Bill is the proverbial chatty person, kung anu-ano tuloy ang nadiskubre nya tungkol kay Mr. M. Chatty Bill relayed to me (yes, we still talk) that Mr. M went on a mission trip to Africa and that he’s active in church. No wonder he behaves the way he does.

I'm priveledge to have a Christian boss.

and then they're gone...

Bill left first week of November.

Darren left last week of November.

Karen left second week of December.

My neighbors left middle of last week.

Sas will leave sometime in January.

I wonder who's going to be next....

how time flies

It’s been a month since I last saw Bill. I can’t believe how time flies. One whole month. One whole month. That’s equivalent to 43,200 minutes, 720 hours, 30 days or 4 weeks.

I can’t say that I have already recovered because the truth is I have not. I’m still going through an emotional rollercoaster but I know that time will come when everything will be OK.

she's HOT!

Yaris went for a tint job this morning and look at her now...

Ain't she hot?

The car is hot but the driver is not. :0)

Beaufort Street Festival

First time nag-celebrate ng festival sa Beaufort Street kahapon, at sa totoo lang, ang boring nya! Walang binatbat sa festival natin sa Pinas. Karaniwan kasi dito pag sinabing festival ay puro inuman. At ganun na nga ang nangyari kahapon, tanghaling tapat pa lang may mga lasing na. Dahil sa hindi kami nag enjoy ni Jenny sa festival kuno, eto at nag-picture-picture na lang kami.

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Kanina after church service ay nag punta kami nina Jenny at Hermie sa Oscar & Sons Restuarant para mag tanghalian. Ni-recommend kasi ni Sylvia 'to sa akin noon pa. Over looking the ocean daw kasi yung restaurant at mura lang ang pagkain at malapit lang naman daw sa church. So mega drive ang lola gamit si Lee (ang aking GPS na malapit ko ng itapon!). Ang napaka-reliable kong GPS, inukut kami kung saan! Gusto ko ng maiyak dahil 25Kms na kami mula sa church ay hindi pa rin namin nakikita yung restaurant! Alam mo ba kung ano ang pumapasok sa isip ko habang nagmamaneho? "Sana andito si Bill. Hindi mangyayari 'to kung sya ang nagmamaneho." Oh well...

After almost 30mins of driving natuntun din namin yung Oscar. Over looking the ocean nga at masarap naman yung pagkain. Pero hindi sya kamurahan ha.

Ibang way ang dinaanan namin pabalik ng Perth. Kahit saan ako sumuot, malayo talaga sya! Isang oras ang layo nya sa Perth. Isa lang ang masasabi ko sa experience na 'to - HINDI NA AKO BABALIK DUN!!!!

and out they go

At long last, I’ve finally sorted out my stuff and guess what? I’m going to give to charity 5 bags of clothes, a weighting scale, a microwave oven and a cd player. Maluwag na uli ang closet/flat ko!

I’ve never been a hoarder that’s why when I stop using an item for a year or two it goes out the door. I’d rather have more space in my flat than fill it with things I’ll never use. When I was still in the Philippines, my mom was usually my beneficiary but since it’s more expensive to ship my “garbage” to her, I now give it to Salvation Army or Good Samaritan.

This batch will go to Salvation Army.

my baby’s going to get her tints

Three years ago hindi ko inakala na masasama sa aking “things-to-do list” ang:

- mag punta sa petrol station para magpa-full tank,
- mag punta sa car dealer para sa every 6-months car service,
- mag canvass at magbayad ng yearly car insurance,
- magtingin kung saan may murang car wash service at
- mag canvas ng presyo ng car tints.

Masyado ng umiinit dito at hindi ko na kayang tiisin yung burning feeling tuwing magdi-drive ako ng tanghali o hapon. Ayaw ko ng mag mukhang katawa tawa na naka-jacket at 40 degress para lang wag masunog ang braso ko. Mase-save ko ang braso ko pero yung mukha ko naman ang nadadali. Ayaw ko din naman na magsuot ng big rimmed hat sa loob ng kotse. Masyado ng katawa-tawa yun!

Kaya kanina, tumawag na ako sa ilang car tinting companies para mag canvass ng presyo. May isa akong nahanap na swak sa budget ko kaya nagpa-schedule na ako for Monday. This Friday sana kaso fully booked sila. Meaning, isang lingo pa uli ako magdi-drive ng naka-jacket! Waaaahhh….

Nae-excite ako na ipa-tint si Yaris. I’m sure it will make her super cute.

the drama's over....i hope

One of the advantages of being on my own (read: newly single) is that I have lots of time on my hands that I'm now able to do the things I've wanted to do. Things like having more quiet time, doing afternoon and/or morning walks, sorting my dresser, going to swap meets, watching dvd's, spending the whole day in my flat and spending my afternoons in the city as long as I want. It's not that I wasn't able do these things when I was with him, it's just that I had to consider him too. And sometimes he's got other plans that I had to forgo my plans. Now I only have to consider and consult myself and no one but myself. (Do I sound selfish?!?)

Those are the advantages but there are also disadvantages. First on the list is that I lost a companion and a friend. These past weeks, there were many times when I had to stop myself from calling him to tell him of my latest happening or my latest gossip. For almost a year, he was the first person I would call every time I wanted to talk someone and suddenly it just had to stop. BANG! Just like that.

However, I believe this is a blessing as well because I've been depending on him for almost everything and I know that I should depend on God and not him. And you know what, I've started to love driving too! I used to hate driving that if there's a chance for me not to drive I won't. In the past, I would often give the keys to Bill and ask him to drive my car or we would go in his car which he prefers. (Just because he's got a nicer car than I do. Hmp!) But now that I have no choice but drive my car, I'm actually gaining more confidence and I'm beginning to enjoy it.

I've been cooking a lot lately too, maybe because I find it therapeutic. Just like yesterday, I made sticky rice cake (biko) and banana & almonds cake. I brought it to church as it was my schedule to bring something for today. They liked the banana & almonds cake. Naubos nila eh! But I think they can't figure out the sticky rice cake. I took home 75% still. Hay! I don't know what I'm going to do with it but it's in the freezer now. (This is where Bill will come in handy as he eats anything. But anyway...) I also made chicken curry for Sylvia and egg & tuna sandwich for Michelle. Michelle was supposed to have afternoon tea at my place yesterday but she didn't make it. I ended up having the sandwich for breakfast this morning instead.

The egg and tuna sandwich.

The chicken curry

The banana with almonds cake

The sticky rice cake

Oh they joys of cooking, makes you forget things! :0)

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Yaris needs a wash! She's sooooo filthy. Honestly, it's embarrassing driving her around. I could only imagine what people think of me as I drive Yaris around. They might be thinking, "Oh, look at that Asian girl with a cute top and a red lipstick, she can't even wash her car. I wonder how her place looks like." Or, "What a lazy girl! I won't get too close to her, her dirt might rub off on me".

Well, I'm not lazy and my place is not filthy. I just can't wash my car at Bill's place anymore for obvious reasons! I'm planning of taking my car to the car wash only once every month because it's expensive - $15-$20/wash. But you know what, I think I'm going to take her today! This will be my first time to go to a car wash. I'm scared!!!

Goodbye for now, my friend

beneath the pain,
beneath the uncertainties,
beneath the tears streaked face,
is peace...
the peace that i've never known for the last 12 months,
the peace that comes from obeying His commands,
even if it hurts.
the peace that comes from following His will,
even if it doesn't make sense.

Goodbye for now, my friend.

1 Nov 2010...

...was when I decided it's over.

buhay ng isang kusinera

Kahapon nagluto ako ng:

Madras pasta - para kay Sylvia at Peter.

Chicken with eggplant and rice noodles - para sa akin. Pinaganda ko lang ang tawag pero sa totoo lang, pancit sya na talong at manok lang ang sahog! Kailangang maging inventive pag wala ng laman ang fridge. Pero in fairness, masarap sya!

Leche Flan - para sa parents ni Bill. Hindi ako nagpapalakas ha! Gusto ko lang matikman nila ang leche flan.

Paplova - napilitan lang akong gawin para hindi masayang yung egg whites. Pero pagkalabas ng oven diretso si paplova sa basurahan. Mas mukha syang putong puti kesa paplova.

Kaninang 5am, nag start na uli akong magluto. This time puto naman. Kailangan kasi namin magdala ng finger foods sa church para sa luncheon. First batch ng aking puto ay diretso din sa basurahan. Para kasing mukha ng bwan yung ibabaw - uka-uka. At nasobrahan ako ng lagay ng food color yellow. Naisip ko na hindi maeengganyo ang mga puti na kainin yun. Baka akalain nila nilalason ko sila. Buti yung second batch OK naman.

After church, nagluto uli ako ng madras pasta. This time para naman sa parents ni Bill at sa ka-officemate kong Italian at vegetarian na si Riccardo. Oh-oh, sana magustuhan ni Mr. Italian yung pasta ko.

Matapos kong maihatid yung pasta at yung leche flan kina Bill, yung lababo naman ang hinarap ko. Maniniwala ka ba na ngayon lang ako natapos sa gawain ko sa kusina?

Hay, ang buhay kusinera......ENJOY!!!

WA Baptist Church Sports Fest 2010

Last month nag volunteer din ako sa WA-wide sports fest ng Baptist Church. Sa Australind-Bunbury ginanap kaya nag-byahe uli kami ni Yaris. Halos 200kms din ang layo nya sa City at walang magandang view along the way. Hindi, mali, hindi "walang magandang view" kundi WALANG VIEW along the way! Hindi ako nagbibiro - wala talagang view.

Kakapagod magdrive! Sa totoo lang, hindi ko nae-enjoy mag-drive. Napipilitan lang ako dahil kailangan. Kung pu-pwede nga lagi na lang ako sa passenger seat eh.

Tanong ng mga kaibigan ko bakit hindi ako sinamahan ni Bill since hindi ko pa naranasan mag drive mag-isa ng ganun kalayo. Hay naku, ang mokong, mas importante pa sa kanya ang manood ng footbal finals kesa samahan ako!

Kung yung room ko sa Yanchep ay luma at amoy kulob, ang sa Bunbury naman ay wow!

Nagandahan ako sa Bunbury. Hindi imposibleng bumalik ako dun at mag spend ng ilang araw para ikutin yung lugar.

More than 1,300 ang participants and volunteers. Ang nakakabilib, sobrang organized sila at well behaved ang mga participants. Nagsabi na ako dun sa organizer na hindi ako magdadalawang isip na maging hospitality girl uli next year!

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Opening day

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Ang aking wow room! Mga Filipina yung workers sa hotel kaso hindi na ako nagkaroon ng pagkakataon na makipag usap sa kanila eh. Yung konting oras na pahingga ko ay ginugol ko sa pagtulog. Sabi sa iyo eh, nakakapagod talaga mag-drive!

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The view from my room.

Around the town of Bunbury.

more bday pictures

Dapat matagal ko ng pinost 'to pero dahil sa kabisihan, hindi ko mawari bakit parang lagi akong kapos sa oras, ngayon ko lang nagawa - mahigit isang bwan matapos ang birthday ko!

Nag-overnight ako sa Yanchep Park nung 21 Sept. Yan ang park na pinaka paborito ko dito sa Perth, kaya kahit na 35kms ang layo nya sa bahay ko sige pa rin ako. Eto ang kagandahan ng may kotse, makakapunta ka kahit saan mo gustong pumunta na hindi umaasa sa iba.

Eto yung hostel na tinirahan ko. Maganda sya sa labas pero luma na ang mga kwarto.

Eto naman yung lake sa loob ng park.

At eto yung mga messages na natanggap ko mula sa Pinas. Ang dami pa palang nakaalala sa akin sa Pinas, ano?

At eto naman ang bday girl....

the fragility of life

First it was Morris...

Then Alma...

And more recently, Evelyn...

Lord, comfort those they have left behind...

let's party!

This blogger decided to have her party today even though her birth date is still a couple of days from today. She invited only a few close friends for her host said that there is not enough space in his parents place to accommodate all the friends she made in her 2 1/2 years in Perth.

It was an intimate party with only about 10 invitees who made it. The original invitees were around 18 but only a few made it today and as a result there was a lot of left over.

This blogger would like to thank her host's parents for allowing her to use their home as the venue for her party. As you may very well know, this blogger's mansion is too huge that 10 people might get lost inside.

Here are some of the pictures:

Mirjana, my host's sister-in-law.

Such a cutie! Nathan, Mirjana's boy.

The boys in Mirjana's life, Nathan and Daniel.

My church friends, from L-R, Neil, my host, Glenn, Judy, and Janette.

My host gorging on the food!!!

My Filipino friends, Jennie, Isa, Gilbert, the blogger, and Dilson (L-R).

The blogger and the host.

The slave cleaning up after the party!