Tuesday, March 25, 2008

white christmas

Easter last year was this.

This year, it was cold and snowing. I was kinda bummed out last Christmas when we didn't get snow. Sometimes, the best gift comes three months late. It's a White Christmas after all. Pasko ng Pagkabuhay.

The missus came down to visit because of the long weekend. It kinda sucked that I worked the first three days but whatever, at least I was still able to look at her beautiful face as soon as I wake up in the morning.

We had a lovely dinner at the hotel Saturday night. Ketty enjoyed her lamb. It was served with creamed white beans and spinach, which according to her was just divine. I had Chicken Milanese which was good and one and a half servings of Sticky Toffee Pudding with Ice Cream topping. Fasting, I was not.

We visited the church Sunday evening and made way to Nando's soon after. Nando's is one of my favorite restaurants. It's Portuguese and Peri-peri Chicken is their speciality. That was hot. And I mean it every way possible. I always leave the restaurant feeling well-stuffed!

Easter Monday was Ketty's last day here. I managed to get a day off and so I went with her shopping at the outlet store in Ashford. My girlfriend made me laugh the moment she stepped into the Lacoste store. She couldn't contain her excitement when she saw the number of bags on sale. With almost everything 70% off, it was indeed Christmas for her.

Finally it was time to say goodbye, I saw her off the East Midlands train to Leicester at 2055. I kissed her and told her to look after herself and I then dashed to the tube as I had a train to catch myself.

Managed to get home before 2230 feeling tired yet fulfilled. Whilst in bed waiting to sleep, I thought to myself: rewarding ourselves with beautiful things for our hardwork is good, eating delicious meals at fancy restaurants is better, appreciating the great outdoors is best and waking up in the morning with the person you want to spend all your mornings is greatest but let us not forget that Easter is a celebration of our Lord's love for us. Through His sacrifice, all of these were made possible. It was God's love for us that we are saved. May we live our days with that in mind and love for one another in our hearts.

Hope y'all had a lovely weekend!

* photo courtesy of the Times

Friday, March 14, 2008

episode 1: meeting the jedi

This has got to be one of the most exciting things that happened to me in London. A celebrity encounter with a Hollywood actor! Not that there was an encounter. It was more like catching a glimpse... from a distance. Around 20 feet to be precise.

On my way to Leicester to visit the missus, I found myself in a middle of a film shoot. Without realising it, I managed to walk into a film set of The Other Man at the St Pancras International Station when I decided to wander around whilst waiting for my train. Seen at the shoot were Oscar nominee Liam Neeson (yep, the Jedi master Qi-Gon Jinn) and Romola Garai- who, I was told by fellow usis (an elderly English couple), appeared in Atonement.




As you can see from the photo, paparazzo I am not. My hands were shaking a bit not only because of the excitement but more so because of it was freezing. And the security people aren't exactly very friendly. One in particular kept on blocking the view everytime I get a clear shot.

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

window display

The people at Anne Summers certainly know how to grab everybody's attention .


Seen not in Amsterdam but in their store at the High in Oxford- a mannequin in a very "interesting" position. Tell me you didn't give it a second look.

Monday, March 03, 2008