and so it is christmas

..and it is very merry.

this christmas had so many flops and mishaps that enumerating them is now just defeating the purpose of this entry.

this christmas as i was working on the eve (trying to be good, so i am allowed a LOOONG leave next year..*please cross your fingers for me). (the only good thing was, work wasn't too hard on the eve. there were no emergency catastrophes, nor a mass stroke epidemic in the county, so we were allowed to leave an hour than normal home time, or they were. i guess, the more your responsibility is, the last you leave the ship, so i basically left just about quarter an hour than normal..LOL).

we had my stepson Mark with us for the christmas period and will be delivering him back to Essex on boxing day,where we are spending back London way where my brother-in-law's house is.

so on the 24th, Adrian picked me up from work, and we went home, had a drink in the pub. the boys stayed longer in the pub while i went home earlier than they did as i had to freshen up and cook some of the noche buena food.

we stayed up til 5 AM. watched DVDs and drank wine/choco drink and ate chcolates til we felt like bursting.

this christmas, i am thankful for so many things/events and people. (i will do a separate "thank you" post for the pressies that my lovely friends gave me because i cannot give it to them personally).

for now, some photos of the night we welcomed christmas..

noche buena for three. 

cheese platter, pigs in blanket, gammon, salad, crisps,

smoked salmon, twiglets, 

assortment party food: breaded prawns, prawn toast, dimsum, cold cuts, 

sausages and steamed prawns.

(and chocolates, and cakes)

christmas tree.

blessings and love to you all.. <3 nbsp="nbsp">

**

let me wish you beautful memories to build on for christmasses to come.

Mika turned 3

my niece Dominique or Mika (sometimes Dom) just turned 3.

she had a strawberry shortcake themed party at her lola's home (my mothers') where she invited her cousins and some neighbours' children to partake of her small party.

it was a very simple party, (kids are so easily pleased,they can never tell an expensive party from a cheap one,haha) all that matters to her was that she was fed and had a beautiful cake and had little kids over to celebrate with her and her mom and dad.

photos from my sister and cousin Ruby Mae ;-)

cake from the fabulous The Cupcake Theory...Thank you Ninang Arvy Lopez ;-)

look at her happy face

it was a simple party to celebrate our little Domdom

she is the only baby in the family

She had wonderful guests,too;-)

Family..

cousin Apollo

Tita Ninang Kharla

Tita Texy

Uncle Victor and Uncle Boy.. her lolos

giving a warm hug to her tita Kharla.

**

our little Mika has a mind of her own when dressing. she has shoe fetish (keeps asking me to buy her 'boots' and socks over skype ), and her taste in dressing reminded me of something i photographed on the catwalk.

**

thank you to Mika's tita Nana who was organizer and part benefactor of the birthday party.. <3

you did a great job tita Ana ;-)

how was valentines day?

we attended a wedding on valentines day.

my ninang Celsa from Cebu arrived in England and rang me out of nowhere, and asked me if i could witness her daughter's wedding on valentines day.

it was quite a surprise as i was not expecting a phone call from her,much more,being in england in the middle of a very bad winter and a wedding to boot.

So adrian and i grabbed the opportunity to celebrate our Valentines day in the company of fellow cebuanos in a very meaningful way.--what could be more meaningful than a wedding on valentines day?

**

some pics from the day:-)

i made myself up. knowing it was freezing cold and my lips were chapped so much from the cold, i decided i could not wear any lipstick at all. so i played with my eyes..and just slicked lipbalm on the lips

in the car.. i still have not got over the novelty over losing (some) weight..

i miss seeing my neck. it's very childish but i must indulge.

adrian's photo of me when we got to the carpark

sitting in the register office,waiting for the bride and groom

Ninang C, walking Jan to her groom..

it was emotional because i know my ninong wanted to be there and so did Jan's siblings.

an iphone photo of the bride and groom with their parents

arriving at the reception..a photo with ninang C

ok,it was cold, so i had to put my jacket on again.

my partner for life;-)

he got emotional at the wedding..such a softie.

a pic with ninang and Sheila.. Sheila is also ninang's goddaughter who lives in the UK. she called all her inaanaks so we all could attend her daughter's wedding.it was lovely meeting her (Sheila), also a cebuana, and speak with someone once again in good Visayan tongue.

Sol (Sheila's sister-in-law), Tito Jun and Tita Babes (Tita Babes is ninang C's sister,

and tito Jun is her husband)

saying goodbye..we had to travel to Norfolk that night, and Sheila and her husband and kids had to travel to Bristol.

saying goodbye to the bride..and her friends

**

because it was a long drive home, we stopped for some coffee with extra espresso shots.

our valentine date,lol.

coffee at Earl's court Costa.

reading an article that Adrian pointed out about Whitney Houston.

Valentine happy;-)

**

it was so nice to be in the company of people from cebu. hearing the language and be with people you know from home just made the valentines day more special.

..and most of all: we had lechon at the reception,too;-) that was the biggest bonus of all;-)

*grateful*

**

how did you spend your valentines day?

celebrating 8

Adrian and i had a nice meal at michelin starred and critically acclaimed chef Tristan Welch's Launceton Place in Kensington. The restaurant is acclaimed for its making good british food in a very fine-tuned presentation and just first-class experience in dining..

it was so warm yesterday, i changed my mind on what to wear for the day. thin cotton top is the best option on hot humid days.

the interior...

the decor beside me

a pre-starter snack (its a roasted crisps tied with a launceton place ribbon)

the sourdough bread..with homemade butter and pickled herring (i had all the herring, tastes like my mama's kinilaw na isda)

my starter.. duck egg on toast and summer truffles

*note: this was so rich, and tasty..i could eat this as the main..

i had some pieces of the sourdough wiped on the plate, because that

sauce with truffle was the best that ever touched my tongue..

but because of its rich texture, i was glad i ordered fish for the main..

adrian's starter ..warm heirloom tomato salad , homemade ewes curd

*note: adrian said he wanted something light and fresh

to make him feel cooler..it was a very hot day

lightly smoked mackerel, mussels,coastline vegetables (my main course)

*i could finish two plates of this..on a different day..

slow braised duck leg, isle of wight tomatoes and cucumber

selected fresh veggies: baby broccoli and baby new potatoes

a closer look at the braised duck

pre-dessert lime sorbet...

treacle tart with creme fraiche ice cream

the treacle inside tasted like iloilo's piaya inside a pie crust

the celebrators

freshly baked madeleines and cream topping.. paired with our coffee

**

it was so hot in the city yesterday that we thought the lunch we had was too rich for lunch..it was too heavy,considering the portions were smaller..

after lunch,we went to church and said our prayers for thanks..after that,we decided to walk off our lunch...

had coffee in Covent Garden.

was craving for iced coffee..Adrian had iced tea..

i love london's free magazines and newspapers..

the window..

a closer look to the outside

**

we went inside Drury tea specialists to buy Adrian's english breakfast tea.

**

then we walked towards trafalgar..due to the heat, eating a big lunch was too much. goes to show,when your stomach is used to light sandwhiches on normal days, a squre meal for lunch is too much esp on a very hot day..

some busking acts in trafalgar square.

quite funny

a pic of me..of course;-)

**

we went home knowing we were expecting some guests at 9:00 pm to have wine and cheese with us..

**

cheese, bread, and wine..with grapes..

brie,camembert, mature fine cheddar, variety of crackers for cheeses

...cured meats in the mix,too

a good french variety (Chateauneuf-du-pape)...

**

happy 8th to us...;-)

**

PS: thank you for your greetings,my lovely friends..i'm so touched when people take time to send their best wishes

the greetings are greatly appreciated..