Holiday Slideshow

Reflections

I've been reflecting on two things today:

1. How amazing the technology we use today is. I watch my kids using the computer and our iTouch with astonishment. To them these things are normal, what they are growing up with. And yet, the internet was "invented" in my lifetime!! How crazy is that? My kids are so used to us using the computer to call people via skype, too. And yet, that kind of video call used to be science fiction when I was at school. No, I'm not feeling old, just amazed that, while I think our present is not much like the future we used to envision when we were writing essays at school like "Imagine life in 2010.." (Flying cars almost always featured. Not there yet. And definitely did not envision being in the Philippines!), we do have things that seemed impossible back then. In fact, Naomi was a little put out that when we spoke to Bonnie this morning she couldn't see her. How incredible that she takes it for granted that you see people when you call them.

2. When God asks us to be "child-like", he does not mean childish. (I've often thought that's a bit of a misnomer, too, because most of us adults can be pretty "childish". The other day I responded to Rose's tantrum by stamping my own foot, which brought me back down to Earth with a bump!) He means their acceptance of and their active participation in life and circumstances and situations as they come. I was playing football with Josh in the front yard and it was unbelievably muggy. He didn't care, he still gave it his all. He didn't stop to moan about the heat or sweat or 100 reasons why he couldn't play football in those conditions.

It is just life and you live life. I want to be like that.

Chilled out, baby

I'm feeling really relaxed after our week away. We had a lovely couple of days at the beach at Tamaraw. Rose made a friend there with another girl her age so she enjoyed the last few hours there even more! Steve, Josh and Rose went snorkelling yesterday morning a little way out from the beach and saw a big turtle. They were so excited, I think everyone staying at the hotel heard! But what a cool experience for them. We had a "quiet time" across the middle of the day but the only one who slept - Joshua - was the one who didn't really need it! I went snorkelling with R & J in the afternoon but of course we didn't have such an exciting experience. It is fun, though, to see how they are growing up and beginning to enjoy older activities. We have recently taught all 3 of the children to play Uno and it is fun to play the game together. I feel tired but I think it is a good tired, from unwinding rather than a busy, worn-out tired.

We are back in Calapan this afternoon and travelling back to Manila tomorrow morning.

Around the Corner

I am going through the book Sacred Marriage with a friend and we were talking about how marriage is a commitment you make not knowing what will occur on your journey together, not being able to see what is around the corner. This has been brought home to me this week. Some friends of ours - who have had a tough few years - have found out the wife has cancer and it has turned their plans upside down. They have exercised their commitment to each other in the view of us all.

Also, this weekend our senior pastor at the church we attend here, who was on his summer break with his family in the US visiting extended family, crashed his motorbike. He is in a serious condition, with possible permanent paralysis. Although his wife didn't know this was going to happen it will not affect her commitment to her marriage, to her husband.

And that's the point, commitment is a choice, an exercise of will, in the face of the unknown.

Start of our holiday

We headed down to Calapan today. We had decided we would travel on Sunday for a change as traffic is so much lighter and so we wouldn't have to get up as early as we normally do. We planned to leave about 6 but our kids had other ideas! They got up at 4:45, so we decided we may as well just leave after all!

We made it to the port in an hour and a half, it was great. The most exciting part was that Josh's first tooth popped out. A little bizarre, but we had visited the dentist this week who told me all of his four front teeth were close to coming out! (He was very excited to match Rose in this!) Josh told me this new dentist was nicer and gentler than our other one. I agree, but mostly, she is cheaper!

We had to wait for 30 minutes for the boat to leave but Steve had loaded up the iTouch with kids' games and activities so the kids were pretty happy. The aircon was non-existent in the boat's lounge area so it was cooler to go out on the side of the boat and enjoy the breeze and the view!

We went for a swim in the posh local hotel's pool just before dinner to cool off after a hot, humid day which was lovely. The water was very warm from the sun.

The kids were tired and went down straight after a much later dinner than we normally have at home.

A new hierarchy

The children watched "Alvin and the Chipmunks" today and when they had finished they came into the room where I was sewing.
R: I'm Alvin because I'm the smartest.
J: No. I'm Simon and I'm the smartest.
R: And I'm Alvin because I'm the oldest and I'm the coolest.
N: So who am I?
J: You're Theodore because you're the smallest.
N: Well I am going to be the prettiest instead. OK?

Love is....

R: You sometimes call Josh, me and Naomi 'lovely'. Why do you call daddy that too?
D: Because he is my lovely too.
R: So why do you call him Steve sometimes?
D: Because that's his name.
(When recounting this story to Steve he asked if that was when he was unlovely!)
R: Why don't you call him honey?
D: Umm, well...(slightly stumped, if honest!) Because that's not really a British expression.
R: Some people use it.
D: Yes, Kate does but it's not a word I use.

I love the fact that Steve does practical things for me to show his love. Today he cleaned my sewing machine of the gunk from using sellotape to fasten the accessory box (don't ask!) and made a new system (still using sellotape unfortunately!) for the box that is so much easier to mess about with the bobbin and better sewing smoothness. For no other reason than to show he cares because it's important to me.

Toy Story

We took the children to see Toy Story 3 this afternoon. We missed the last installment of Shrek - we did try but they removed it from the non-3D screen by the time we managed to organise ourselves to go and it is sooooo much more expensive to see it in 3D, and then when we decided we would see it in 3D they had changed the times from those published on the website so we didn't go - so we were making sure we got to the cinema this time!
We bought ice-creams from the McDonald's first - 10 pesos (6.5 pence) for a vanilla cone. I couldn't help thinking about what a heart attach I am going to receive upon purchasing in the UK! But they wouldn't let us in the cinema with them so we had to eat them up quickly. Thankfully, we were a little early and it mean we missed most of the trailers - a good thing as they are generally highly inappropriate for young eyes.
We moved seats three times because we started in the second row then realised Naomi couldn't see over the top of the chair in front of her. So we moved to the front but we were on the balcony and the railing was now cutting off half the screen for her. So we moved to the side where the seats were higher and had noting in front of them. The funny thing was she ended up sat on Steve's knee for most of it so it probably didn't matter too much where we sat in the end!
Naomi thought it was too loud in the cinema but they all 3 enjoyed the film. It is a different experience in the cinema and I think it can be more frightening for kids. Josh is not too keen on the fact it is dark in the cinema. Doing something like going to the cinema can make you take a look at life through a child's eyes and that can be a very good thing.

distance

Naomi randomly announced to me in the car that she thought Bohol must be close to England.
D: No, it's still in the Philippines and not close to England.
N: But we go on a 'plane there.
D: The aeroplane to England will take much longer.
N: Oh, yes we get 2 aeroplanes to England.
D: That's right.
N: I am sitting with daddy when we fly to England!

Out of Routine

This morning, as she was showering, Naomi asked me if we were late for Church.
Debs: No, because it's not Sunday.
N: Is it a school day, then?
D: No, it's our holiday.
N: So we're going to Calapan?
D: No, I mean it's holiday from school so daddy and Rose are home.
N: Oh.

The poor kid is so confused with no routine to keep track of the days. I know how she feels!

This afternoon Rose's other front tooth came out. It's been wobbly for a while but she was sat at the desk in the study and slipped off the chair onto her chin and it knocked the tooth out - with a lot of blood. She was a little traumatised for a bit but got over it and is now carrying round the tooth in an old margarine pot.

Soccer Skills

Before the Brits shout at me for using the word soccer, I am merely underlining the fact that this is - sadly - how my children more frequently refer to football. Rose was very keen to sign up for the "hat-trick soccer training" for the next 3 weeks, over 9 days and, surprisingly, Joshua was not. However, by the time Rose was getting ready to go he had decided he wanted to join too and they were both very excited. Steve went too but Rose told him he could leave after 10 minutes so he was happy to go and work in his office.
They had a great time and it kept them busy for a couple of hours!

Thunder, what thunder?

We went up to school on Sunday as is our wont. Steve had 5 others to play football with! They got tired earlier than usual : ) The kids spent about 5 minutes biking around the playground and on the playground and decided it was too busy - one of the local childrens' homes was there and they were playing basketball which limited the space the kids could bike. So we went to play in the sand - I think the real reason they wanted to leave the playground! I found a comfy chair and sat by them reading my paper. I heard them mention thunder and also heard Rose say, "mummy's not listening to what we say" but when we got home the kids said to Steve that they were surprised it hadn't rained based on the amount of thunder we had on the field. Steve said he agreed and I said, "It thundered?!" Steve looked at me with that look that suggests he thinks I've gone potty, and said, "yes, didn't you hear it? There was lots."
Obviously, I was rather engrossed in my paper as I did not hear any thunder whatsoever! I did notice how dark it got, though. Does that count?

Farewell

Got up at 3:40 a.m. to take Bonnie and her parents to the airport. Why do flights always leave at inconvenient times? Actually, I can't think of what time would be convenient, but to at least have a decent night's sleep before flying would be helpful.
All goodbyes are painful in some way and I've experienced a few hard ones here. At least with family you KNOW you're going to see them again. They can't really get rid of you. But there are no guarantees with our international friends.
This time there is no pick-up at the end of the summer. It pretty much underscored my day but I was aware of God's grace too. My husband was perfect too and I am grateful for his understanding and compassion.

Biking

Driving License Renewal

The last time I went to do this, the office was still outside and my friend and I hired a fixer to help.  Well, 'hired' is a strong word, he attached himself to us, helped things along and we paid him a "tip" at the end!
A couple of other people in our organisation had some horror stories about their recent attempts to renew their licenses so I wasn't sure what to expect.  The system has been computerised so fines are being flagged up and you have to go to another department in the city to get a "certificate of clearance".  Thankfully, nothing like that happened to Karen and I and we breezed through the steps.  There are a lot of them:
Step 1 - go to window 1 and get a form
Step 2 - go to cubicle next door, stand in queue and fill in form while waiting to pay for medical and drug test
Step 3 & 4 - have "medical" - weight, blood pressure, sight test.  When I get my medical form back it also says I have perfect hearing and no contagious diseases - apparently you can tell these things just by looking!
Step 5 -  Go to drug test centre, join queue in waiting room.  Provide urine sample when number called.  (I had made sure I had drank plenty as this has been a problem before.  Today I had drank so much I couldn't stop weeing!)
Step 6 - Sit again and wait for name to be called for photo and fingerprints at Window A.
Step 7 - Sit again and wait for results from drug test.  (I'm gad we got there shortly after the centre opened as now people are waiting outside as there's no room inside).
Step 8 - Go back to original window 1 and hand in completed form
Step 9 - Wait till called to do "photosig" i.e. have digital photo and digital signature taken for license
Step 10 - Sit other side of room to wait for name to be called to pay for license and any fine for it being overdue
Step 11 - Receive new license.

We did it in 2 hours which is pretty good.  It lasts for 3 years and then I have to do the steps again : )

My first attempt at uploading video. It's a song the kids learned at preschool on Thursdays when I didn't go.

I'm a little acorn round,
lying on the cold,cold ground.
I am all cracked up you see
Cos people always step on me...

Landmark Moment

Joshua started riding his bike without the stabilisers this afternoon.  I've thought for a while he is ready but we don't have enough space at home for him to try properly and our road has the worst potholes ever!  So we headed up to school and the wide, spacious, smooth playground.  Thankfully, no groups were up there and he climbed on his bike, I gave him a small push and that was all he needed. He is so excited about being able to ride his bike by himself.

How Embarassing

We went to sbarros for lunch today - an Italian fast food place.  They do an amazing spinach calzone which I had to order in advance as it takes 25 minutes to make from scratch.  Wendy had joined us and somehow we got back on the mummy and daddy kissing thing again (I don't know why this has started, I guess Rose is just at that age) - Rose said, "I think it's gross that you and daddy kiss each other on the neck".  Well, I could feel myself going red (I'm going red now, writing it!).
Debs: We don't.
Rose: Yes, you did when you got married.
Debs: What?!  No, we didn't and how would you know?
By this time I probably could have provided the lighting for the whole restaurant.  Wendy, of course, was laughing her head off next to me and Steve was completely oblivious of the whole conversation because he was talking to Josh.  I changed the subject pretty quickly after that!

New Bag

Rose got to build her lego house this morning with Steve.  He encouraged her to try and follow the instructions by herself and, on the whole, she did a great job.  It was a long process and took a few hours.

Then we went to the mall to buy a new school bag for Rose while they are still out on display.  She picked a brandless (with a little direction from her mum!) pink and blue pull along backpack.  She was desperate to have one with wheels like a couple of her classmates and, if it survives the year, it should be useful on the 'plane!  It came with a free backpack which was magnanimously donated to Naomi who threw a strop at first because she wanted one like Rose!  But then she took ownership of the backpack and you would never know she hadn't picked it out herself!

The things they say!

This was the way I was woken up this morning at 5 a.m. :
Joshua: Mummy, I'm asking you to get up because daddy always gets up and he must be tired!
Well, I can't really refuse him without modelling incredible selfishness to my children, can I?!

Later on when Steve got up, Rose said "I thought it was Sunday because daddy's in the shower"
D:  Does daddy only have showers on Sundays?!
R: No....
What she was trying to say was because Steve had a lie-in and was showering later!!

This afternoon - after an awful morning, it has to be said - the Pape children came over to play for the last time (they fly tomorrow) and we eventually ended up with lots of children as their friends began coming over to say goodbye and ended up staying at our house to play too! We ended up with 10 children including ours before we sent them all home at dinner time.

Gross

I was driving Joshua and Naomi up to school, this is part of their conversation:
N: ...that's gross.
J: What?
N: Mummy and daddy kissing is gross!
J: Ugh! Yes.
N: This is gross. (Not sure what this is as I couldn't see)
J: oooooh.  Dead bugs are gross.
N: ooooooooh.
As you can imagine I was cracking up!

Club Manila East

When Rose came back from her sleepover we all went to the local pool complex to spend our last day of fun with the Papes.  It was really fun - especially the wave pool which has never been on when we have gone before.  We often go out of season as it's quieter, today is right at the end of the season, so there were a few families there but it wasn't awful!  There was an overcast sky but it only rained before we went (it's all outdoors) and a bit of spitting just before we left.  Despite this I managed to get very red on my back and face.
Rose began to complain of a headache after lunch and I knew it was only going to get worse as I get the same if I get over-tired.  I decided we needed to leave so we headed in the direction of the changing rooms and by the time we got there I had 2 daughters throwing hissy fits.  One because she felt so grotty and the other because she did not want to leave and she was not going to take her wings off or get in the shower or get changed because she was still going to play!!  The other was dying very loudly and banging on my shower door.  I was trying to be as fast as possible.  Josh was showered, dressed and waiting quietly.
On the way home, Rose began throwing up and I had no bag or anything she could use so she wound down the window and was ralphing out of it.  I didn't realise till we got home that it was all down the car!
Note to self: Don't attempt to spend the day being busy when your child has not had enough sleep the night before!
And my husband obviously didn't get the memo about it being the start of the school holidays as when I went to collect him from school he had a group of teachers in a meeting about new style of report cards!
We had our last 'Barkada' (group of friends) supper together, which was fun and sad.

End of another school year

It was flag-lowering this morning and, true to fashion, ended up in the auditorium as it was raining.  (It often rains on Graduation Day!)  We started the year in there, too, because of the rain, so it was a fitting end in one sense.
It was very empty in Elementary after the ceremony as most kids were picked up by parents at the auditorium.  Rose was spending the afternoon and sleeping over at a friends' house.
I got to re-connect with an old student of mine who was editor of Tiwalan my second year.  That was great.
Hot Season has finally broken.  It has been cooler recently (well around 30C) and I have been able to sleep with covers again - I like that! : )  It makes a difference to how we all feel, too.  Hot Season is physically draining.  I think we have decided to get air-con in our bedroom for our next term.  I figure we can survive one more year!

Tues

Josh comes to tell me that Naomi is pretending to be a monster by sticking (with glue) the flowers she is meant to be sticking on her paper in a pretty picture, on her finger tips.  I roll my eyes and sigh and he goes back to her and says, "Mummy says don't do that".  It made me smile because I suppose that's what I would have said if I had used words!

At dinner:
Debs: Don't be mean to each other.  You should talk nicely to each other.
Naomi: Yes we do be mean to each other