So Now What?

I am not really the type of a person who makes New Year's resolution but when this year started I sort of made a promise to myself to at least make an effort in maintaining this blog. I hope I could keep up with it. Oh well, I could try.

Lately, I noticed that after a full year of writing technical design documents, it was very hard for me to come up with free flowing blog entries without sounding too "technical". Maybe that was the main reason why even if I had so many stories to write and countless thoughts to share, they all ended up in the rubbish bin. It is as if the most infinitesimal, or if there are any, creative juices that I have were drained out of me. haha!

Now, I will try as much as I can to squeeze out a little time to blog about something and anything just so I can get back to writing comfortably again.

So bear with me if I will be tattling nonsense in here once in a while.

The Year That Was

2008 passed by so fast that I felt as though 2007 was still fresh for me and here comes another year. Maybe I got very busy last year and added to that was the excitement of my much anticipated year-end homecoming.

As the year started, I was involved in this big project based in Germany and for a while I had been commuting Bonn-London on a weekly basis. This has been eating up most of my time as the project schedule was hectic with few people working on a tremendous amount of work with tight deadlines. It was an enjoyable working experience though and I got to meet interesting people as well.

In past year, work has given me opportunities to travel. Actually, an overload of business travels that I almost gave up. I came to a point where I only spent a couple of days at home with Zach and head off to the next destination. But I am thankful just the same. I got to discover those places without taking its toll from my own pocket.

We entertained guests last year and sharpened our tour-guiding skills. My cousin Cathy dropped by at England on the first week of June and spent a weekend with us after she completed her seminar in Aberdeen, Scotland. Months later, Rey and Elanie came over and we had a fantastic time catching up and wandering around London, Windsor and the countryside. Read Rey and Elanie's story here.

The most popular tourist destination in London-Buckingham Palace

Cathy at the Picadilly Circus

At the Stonehenge with Rey and Elanie

2008 has seen me driving with British Driver's License. haha! Finally, I was able to overcome the fear of practical driving exam and booked myself an exam date. Even before the exam I was already expecting a retake but I just could not believe it when the examiner handed me the verdict - PASSED with 1 out of 16 allowable minor errors. It was not that frightening after all.

Of course, the year ended with me in the cradle of dear old Bacolod and this has been the highlight for me. Nothing beats the comfort of being in the company of family and friends. Heaven!!!

Thank God for a generous and fun-filled 2008! Most of all, THANK YOU for helping me and my sisters fulfill a dream gift to our parents.

Two Souls, One Heart

"Two Souls with but a single thought, Two hearts beat as one" - Friedrich Halm

Allan Paul and Joy
16 December 2008
St. Isidore Parish

My homecoming became more meaningful because of my dear little sister's wedding. Indeed, she's no baby anymore.

Little Sister

After years into the relationship and going through the ups and downs together, I could not be more happier to see them tie the knot and live life as one.

It has been a grand reunion as well since relatives from both sides of our parents' families gathered for the memorable event. Aunts, uncles and cousins from abroad came home and it was so much fun that I barely had time to think about jetlag.

The bride's BIG clan

Nanay, Mama and Mommy with Aunts and friends

The Santillanosa's

Mama with the boys - who have all grown up so fast.
My nephew Kyle, bother Eugene and cousin Jade

Excitement!

As soon as 2008 started, I have been looking forward to nothing but WINTER! definitely not because of the gloomy and cold weather but because of the warm and homey feeling Pinas has to offer. Yes! it's now a matter of days (as in days!!!!) before my much-deserved and long waited homecoming. It's been exactly 2 years since I went home. I just could not wait!!!

I have packed up my luggage since last week (I am not that excited, am I?) and had done some last minute shopping. I am raring to go but I need to keep my focus on my project tasks and deliverables for this week or shall I say 3-day work period before I head off to my 5-week sojourn.

Oh! Excitement of all excitements!

It's Christmas Time in the City

Unfortunately, due to some reason, Zach cancelled his holiday in Pinas and for another reason I could never back out and decide not to go home (or else my not-so-little sis will not speak to me ever again..hehe!). It simply means that we will be celebrating our second anniversary, Christmas and New Year apart. Too bad!

In order to make up for it, we decided to have an early Christmas treat. We went to the Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park in London on the evening of the 3rd of December despite the harsh cold of winter. The fair showcases an outdoor ice rink, observation wheel (or ferris wheel or whatever one wants to call it) and a variety of rides and family entertainment. But for Zach and I, we indulge ourselves to freshly grilled German sausages, mulled wine and some crepes available in the authentic German Christmas Market. And of course, would BEER be ever absent in any German or English event? Not!

Here are some photos taken using our mobile phone cameras. Somebody has forgotten to bring the P&S camera (uhm..me?). Apologies for the photo quality.

Zach enjoying his gluhwein

try ice skating...should I or shouldn't I

observatory wheel for them - ferris wheel for me

an earlier trip to Selfridges in Oxford Street for some gift-buying
and see their Christmas lights displays