hongkong by chance

old photos.

a backblog..(back log blog,haha).


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On our last trip to Cebu (december 2009), our plane landed late at Hongkong. Adrian and i were initially shocked and frustrated as we knew we had limited holiday time and we had things lined up to do in that short time. Here's the story. Our London plane arrived at 9:25 AM while our plane for Cebu already left at 9:05 AM. The next available flight to Cebu was at 4:30 pm the next day.

What to do? Our heads were screaming.

Good thing, Cathay Pacific put us up for the entire duration of our Hongkong stay and fed us too (all beautiful 5 meals,haha).

We were billeted at a good hotel just by the airport, and as soon as we checked in and got fed lunch, Adrian and i caught up with sleep, and by dinner time, got fed again and went out to see a small part of Hongkong at night.


Some pictures at Mongkok or the night market.

taxis outside the airport

night market..Adrian curious about whats for sale

looking at Chinese wares

we were looking for a coffee place by this time.





he said, take a picture of me under a sign..even if he doesnt understand it..LOL

trivia: Adrian lived in Hongkong for two years when his father was posted in the army.

busy night in the market

night life..

trivia: a few days after, we read on the internet that there was a man who injured tourists and locals by throwing acid to pedestrians at Mongkok market. pheww!

waiting for the night train to take us back to the hotel

they gave us quite a big room..there was a little sofa and a coffee table apart from the dresser..bigger than normal hotels..what makes it lovely even better was we werent charged for it,LOL.

Adrian had a good sleep, not jetlagged anymore...the hotel's facade





the walkway to the hotel

The next day, after breakfast,we packed our bags and went out to the city for a little jaunt but didnt stay long as we were worried about making sure to check out earlier from the hotel to check our luggages with the airline in ample time.

***

after that little stopover in Hongkong, Adrian and i promised to make the most of Hongkong one day..

one day when were both not too caught up with making the most of our Cebu life.

when that will be remains a question. your guess is as good as mine.

Ely, Cambridgeshire

Adrian yesterday attended the Conferment Exercises and Presentation for graduates for his University at Ely Cathedral in Cambridgeshire. I was his guest.

Adrian's brother also graduated for his Environmental Degree Studies. He graduated with highest honours too.

Adrian was proud.

I was proud.

It was also a very beautiful day in Cambridgeshire yesterday,and it was very warm, especially for people who were wearing graduation gowns,LOL.


The atmosphere was electric, there was a buzz of excitement for the graduates, and undertone of pride from the families of graduates and a momentous honour for the university.


I had all three. I was there to see my husband do what he normally does on a yearly basis, and also, i was there in the capacity to take photos of Alan and his family and to witness what the presentation of graduates is like in this country.

I must say, i regretted not attending with Adrian before. I should have done every year.

But not to worry, i have the next few years to make up for it.


***

Photos taken yesterday: 5th of June,2010, except the last photo, photo of the cathedral taken today...






the beautiful architecture of Ely Cathedral

inside the cathedral before the program





I said to him, he looks very official. he wasn't too pleased that day, his 'colours' werent delivered that day. he had to use an ordinary London university one. Adrian is quite happy i was there, but he was saying he would have loved it if i saw his (white/yellow/black/maroon) normal garb colours which represented his Royal College of Science colours. to me it didnt matter. he looked very presentable.

smiling and happy. it was a long day for us.

he looked very official and very 'adult',LOL

in procession with his peers.

him and his colleagues in procession

this was whats going on outside the cathedral..there was a buzz of activities

there was a fayre going on in the green across the cathedral grounds





a variety of wares being sold. this one's crafty.

some, were for the garden.

and others were selling something for the palate.

Today, Adrian and Alan, and Alan's family, we went around Ely, and took pictures of the beautiful old town.

Thats the beautiful Cathedral. It dominates the town.

Imposing.

And magnificent.

some things to consider

My mind's filled with so much information about prison legislation, forensic mental health regulations, and trends in health and social care.

I have been reading and rechecking my work for handing in to university and im neither in the beginning nor near the end. It feels endless.

I bet they call this mid-essay crises. You thought you started with a goal, and by the middle of it all, you feel youre losing your way and the end is nowhere in sight.

The good thing is, i still have the weekend before work next week. Sembreak is too short, methinks.


Other than that, i am grateful. Grateful for opportunities and chances in life.


***


I cant wait for July. Hopefully, i could concentrate on chilling out during university days (its summer break for me,weeheeey!).


***



While im typing this, the tv blasts with infomercials about Mari's Windsor Pilates. it shows many previously flabby women, who now look like models. (with picture evidence).

Anyone who has tried it, please drop me a line if it works. It sounds to good to be true, you apparently have to do it for only 20 minutes 3x a week. Very doable, sounds like, but i have doubts with infomercials. All they sell sound very much miracle-inducers.

If it worked on someone i know, then maybe i'll change my tune.



photo: a view from a tearoom window in an antique centre.

Special one-to-one Make up class with Teacher Lu

Because we had Teacher Lu during our tailor-made two-week turned 5 fullday session,and 3 of that special one-to-one and was really satisfied with her tutelage, Ana and i thought we needed to specialize more with cinematic and photographic make-up (which we needed for photography).

Because Ana was leaving in a few days time, and we had no more days left to enroll in a class to do so, we decided to hire Lu for an extra whole day session just to specialise in the matter.


The whole day was used in great detail as Ana and i knew the basics already so we skipped that and just went straight to the nitty gritty of the two most popular make up which is constantly asked by brides and models for photoshoots which are the Retro Look and Glamour). We started at 9 Am and ended at 5 pm.


We also asked our friend Jenny (our classmate in the previous class, to be our model. We paid her with lunch and champagne at the fabulous restaurant in the hotel we were staying in. She readily agreed as she could sit in and look at what was being done to her, but she knew she should not interrupt during the session and she cant even touch the brushes to participate on the session r ask questions as she will just be 'hired' model for the day. )


It was great because while Teacher Lu did the demonstration on Jenny, Ana would do the entire thing on Jenny after cleaning out what Lu has done, and i'd do the ritual of cleansing again and do the same thing on Jenny. It was nervewracking too as Teacher Lu would stand behind and tell us off every time we've done a wrong move.


The best thing about it? Lu told us how much we should price our make up service afterwards inspecting our work. She told Ana and i that we could price it at £85-£100 session. Ana and i laughed as we knew people in (cebu) will not pay for the equivalent of that amount.


Here are some photos taken on a wonderful hotel Ana and i stayed in for two days and night for the sessions.


(all photos from the canon digicam)




teacher Lu showing us the tricks





the retro look..red lips, a must!





her finished look




my turn..






Jenny's base..Jenny is a flight attendant for British Airways.
She was supposed to be working in Athens that day, but when i called her on her phone a few days before, she rescheduled and swapped with one of her colleagues, as she said she didnt want to miss it for the world.






i was bedazzled and a little bit nervous because the teacher was being very critical






i was also explaining things for the teacher





im so intent and serious






intense and nervewracking





you can tell by her stance and her hands in the backpocket she's a bit of a madam,haha..but she's now a good friend of mine..we promised to see one another in Brighton and have a girly night out.





finishing touches





showing off my work..the teacher gave a pass mark,haha..


***

Ana did her job afterwards, but i dont remember taking pictures of her work. But i did for her afternoon work.


***

We had lunch at the hotel's popular restaurant REFUEL.

We didn't take pictures because Ana and i we were scared being told off as it was a popular hotspot for celebrities and artisits and musicians,we didnt want to be kicked out.

We enjoyed lunch and compared lives between the UK and the Philippines. Teacher Lu and Jenny were so interested to know the differences between the UK and the Philippines, and how we've come to love make up.



***

The afternoon session was easy and smooth.


It was glamour look this time.





The demonstration




Ana went first. (I had to make phone calls)






not even half done





a pose with her model





My turn





She's pensive again..in the middle of doing the eyes




Its hardwork when youre so "busog" and doing make up on a tipsy model,haha..




She's a happy bunny





show me the eyes






My work done..


***

Ana and I went to have dinner at Covent Garden after this, and watched The Lion King.

(i know, the sequence of my blogs are here, there and everywhere).

sembreak

it's halfterm week (or sem break) for us students (and teachers too,lol) this week. this means no classes. although if you're like me, you have a research material (or patchwork written research) to finish. it gives us university students a time to do more work.

and for the teachers: to do what my husband likes doing best.




look at the happiness on his face..he is redoing the flowerbed by the front area of the house.






he just uprooted the overgrown and wilted so he's replacing it this week with the buds from his mini nursery (read: my pantry/utility area)







gardening is his pastime. he indulges me in all my passions, and supports me.

who am i to tell him that kneeling on mud and getting dirty is irritating my nerves when he comes inside with his shoes? thats why he has garden clogs,LOL.



***


just taking a pause to give some thought to the person who never forgets to put me first in everything.


***

and because its halfterm, Adrian and I are indulging ourselves with rented DVD's, mini luchdates and an excuse to stay awake til 2 am.

weve watched two DVD's that's worth recommending to you:

One is the movie PRECIOUS. Its a movie produced by Oprah Winfrey (which stars Monique ;who won an Oscar for it and the really convincing Gabourey Sidibe) and it talks about abuse and motherhood. It really moved me.

The other one is the movie The Greatest. (Starred by Susan Sarandon, Pierce Brosnan and Carrie Mulligan). The movie talks about grief and dealing with grief, and how a family could be shaken by the loss of someone. This really made me a weeping willow beside Adrian.

Anyone who is just getting over the loss of someone they love could relate to this movie. I did, and more.

Adrian and i had a discussion after watching the movie tonight and i also cried some more as i talked about my own grief.

He listened and cried with me.

***

Not long afterwards, i made a toasted bread and some egg omelette,(yes comfort food).

Comforting and numbing of sore emotions, thats what it did.

**

Have a nice sleep my beloveds, or if you're just waking up or in the middle of your day; have a nice steady one.

Tomorrow is another day, to conquer and to look forward to. (I hope sans mud on my carpet.)