Of Losing and Gaining

I catched up with a dear old friend in YM recently and I was caught in disbelief when she broke the news that she and her boyfriend of two years had called it quits. I thought everything was doing well for them especially that they’ve been really remarkable in handling their long-distance relationship and has been mulling over marriage for quite some time. After she spilled the whole story, I can’t help but feel bad too. I know everthing happens for a reason. I am very sure God has far more wonderful plans for her. Just hang on, dear. Free yourself of all the negative vibes. Keep looking at the bright side of it all. I know the best awaits you. :-)

Speaking of the bright side, I am so excited for my FFL (Friend For Life, hehe!). In a matter of days, she will be seeing her sweet little angel for the first time after nine months of nurturing it inside her. Oh!!! I’m always getting a little emotional everytime I think about it. It seems like yesterday when we were babyish teeners. Now, we are embarking on a new ground with all the wisdom we have gained from past experiences. I’m so happy for you, friend. I know you are having something that you’ve always wanted. I am very sure you’ll be a great mom.

Life indeed is full of surprises. You’ll never know what is in store for you. But as long as you have faith, there’s nothing to be afraid of. Whether you lose some and gain some along the way, the important thing is that you have loved and touched other people’s lives. I guess that’s what living a life is all about.

Stressed Out?

I’m feeling a little haggard and stressed lately. It seems I have turned into a worry-wart. :-( I know I shouldn’t be like this. I would like to believe that most of the time I feel that I am in control of all the comings and goings in my life. I usually just go with the flow and live life to the fullest.

Well, they say that the best way to surmount stress is to know what causes it and beat it. But I can’t figure out what caused this kind of dramatic stress. Let me think….

It might be caused by the high demand of work completion in the office. I’ve been assigned to a new project since this month started. I was given the dimensioning task and I will be working on my own since everybody’s hands seem to be full as well. After a week, I was again assigned a different task which was perfectly fine for me as I really don’t want to be stuck in the dimensioning thing. It’s not that work here is rubbing me off like in my previous company since the deadline here is very reasonable that you can still afford to take things slow just so you’ll get occupied for the rest of the week. Yeah! Work is challenging but its getting uncomplicated as I go along. And the most important thing is that I am enjoying it. So I suppose this has not contributed much to my so-called stress.

Then it got me thinking that things were a little busy these past weeks since almost every being in the office are out for their holidays! The only person who seems not to have any summer holiday planned is…ME! Poor me! Now I understand the weird look on my manager’s face when I told him that I’ll be taking my 5-week vacation at the end of the year. He even suggested that I take a couple of weeks off this summer and the remaining 3 weeks on December. Maybe he thought that I was too daft to miss the all-important summer heat. Hehe! Now I realized what he was pointing out. It’s just too stressful to think how the others are enjoying their work-free holidays while I toiled my self with office work. Hehe!

But I have a very good reason for taking all my holidays at the end of the year. I will be making a giant leap advancing to the next level of my life. I am super-duper excited that it usually wakes me up from my slumber and I am having this unexplainable feeling that makes me want to smile, laugh, giggle, cry or wail. Or even all at the same time. Hehe!!! I keep on looking forward to that glorious day, the 17th of December!!! On the contrary, thinking about the preparations and all the things that need to be settled, I sometimes wish that I’d still have the luxury of time. It’s true what they say that planning and preparing for that dream event are exciting and nerve-racking at the same time especially on my part that I am here on at the other side of the world. It’s just so stressful thinking about the what-ifs and what-nots. But everytime I think about how taxing all these planning and organizing for me, I realized how hard it is for Zach to be the one in charge of everything out there even when it comes to my frock. To think that he is a guy and knowing guys, they sometimes have very limited tolerance for details especially THOSE details. Thank God for him, it made me appreciate him more and made me think that indeed I will be making a good decision of spending my lifetime with him.

Having said all of these, I think stress is just all in the mind. I have a lot to look forward to and I don’t need stress to waste my time into. I think I’ll just go with the flow…enjoy every moment of it. As for the summer holiday that I never had…well, it’s not too late especially that my friend from my previous company is here for a vacation… I’ll be contented with a weekend getaway though.;-)

Thwarted Plot

The moment I waked up and walked out of my room this morning, my parents came rushing and expressed their concern over an ex-colleague/friend who is scheduled to fly here in UK for a much-deserved holiday. It was then that I learned of a thwarted terrorist plot of blowing up several aircrafts travelling between UK and US using explosives smuggled in hand-carried luggages. Thank God that the British authorities were fast enough to discover the plan and impede such another “mass murder on an unimaginable scale.”

Security was raised to the highest level in the whole kingdom especially on airports banning hand-carried luggages on all flights. Passengers dealt with delays and crowds due to increased security and scrutiny of luggages. What’s worse is that Heathrow airport was closed for all incoming flights that are yet to be airborne. All flights going out of UK were grounded affecting a lot of travellers.

I just can’t understand why would people resort to such activities? I just can’t fathom such passion and belief where you put innocent people’s lives at stake? Why would such a worthless act affect people who simply wants to travel due to business reasons, people who just wanted to take a break from jobs for a rewarding holiday, or those who just want to see and spend time with friends and family living abroad? But I am faithful that God will always find ways to stop these inhuman acts.

The wicked will never triumph.

Summer in Hampshire

I didn’t really expect the summer here in the south-western part of UK to be this hot. It was a big deal for the Britons to have this kind of weather. They said that it was after almost 20 years that the temperature reached 34 up to 36 degrees. It is during these months that the people are out in the on the coast, at the national parks, in London and popular towns like Oxford, Bath and York, and of course, are quite alert about heat wave. Also, it is during this time of the year when employees are taking a week or two break for their all-important summer holiday.

As for me who is used to this kind of weather, what I love about this season are the summer flowers that color the surroundings. Almost all houses are adorned with the delightful blooms. It somehow refreshes me from the scorching heat of summer. I never appreciated flowers before like I do now. There’s always an urge for me to stop, smell and grasp the floral splendour. Everyday, I am always wishing that I have my own garden or even a mini flower box which of course is quite impossible for me now as I am living in a second floor flat with no terrace at all.

Here are some pictures taken while I was walking around one afternoon:

flowers giving this house a welcoming touch

I just love those flower pots hanging by the wall

what else will attarct my attention? anything purple...

flowers...flowers...flowers!!!

Underage?

I don’t really know if I’ll be offended or flattered. Recently, a friendly neighbour approached me and started to have a conversation. He introduced himself as the one living just across my flat and he said he has noticed me from his window for some time now. We exchanged some few pleasant words including his visit to the Philippines last year and how much he liked it there. Then, maybe he could not contain himself any longer, he asked if I am in some sort of a student exchange program or if I am completing my university studies here. Whoa!!! I can’t quite describe the shock that registered in his face when I told him that I am here for work and mentioned the company that hired me. He apologized for assuming since he thought I am still in my late teens. I volunteered to divulge my age and he said that I don’t look like it. Hehe!!! At that time, I was sure I was flattered.

Then days after, I decided to stop by a supermarket to buy a bottle of champagne for my father who was then celebrating his birthday. Confidently, I marched to the till and was rummaging my purse for some coins when I was asked for any ID card as I looked young according to the cashier. Luckily enough, I still have my SSS ID with me with my date of birth indicated. She took a long hard look at it and eventually entered the item in her register. I was a bit embarrassed at that time since there are a few people in the queue and they all craned their necks to check on me if indeed I am of legal age to purchase alcoholic drinks. Haay!!!

Maybe looking young has its own pros and cons. It can be flattering but can cause some embarrassment as well when people seem not to trust you thinking that you are just a mere kid. But I think it’s better than ladies of my age here in UK who seem to look beyond their years. I guess looking young and feeling young is a manifestation of how happy I am living my life. ;-)