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.

divine grace

"Happiness is not a goal..it is a by-product of a life well-lived.. "~~Eleonor Roosevelt

Today, silliness with Adrian... visiting the Lavender Farm in Heacham, Norfolk (20 minutes away from our house).

the country farm shop

We love our local farm shop. We get most of our meat from there and some of our veggies and fruits.

Apart from a very nice selection in their butcher's counter, they have an organic bakeshop if we wanted some cakes or unusual fresh bread.

From our house, there is a short cut to the farm shop. and across the farm shop is the gym where Adrian and i go to. We just love the proximity of everything (although we always drive to get there so far as we normally visit the farm shop to go somewhere else,too).

We were supposed to go meet oour lovely friends back in essex, but Adrian had to cover someone else's conference study day today, so we had to be at home for him to be available for his students. I thought, i might as well cook him his fave pork chop meal tonight. Just perfect for me right after going to the gym.

Thus, the need to drop by our farm shop, which is always a happiness to visit.

Remind me to take u there.

cottage of our dreams

one sunny november sunday in 2011,we had guests who we took to the Castle to have a view and listen to the history of our little village and of course it's most beautiful landmark: the castle of Queen Isabella. (pictures of that to follow some time this month!)

the castle had 'heavy' dramatic history to say the least (i will tell you a snippet, but i wont give it all, lest u come visit and we shall take you there,lol),and the views were amazing from the castle itself.

at the side of the Castle is a hill where the moat slopes, and tadaahh, guess where it looks over?

that's our tiny little cottage over there. it looks tiny outside, but it has 3 double bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen and a dining room. perfect for a two-person family like Adrian and i, and for a few guests. however, storage was our compromise: half of my clothes, shoes ,books and kitchen gadgets are stowed in my brother-in-law's garage back in the suburds of London. but, im not complaining. compromising space to live a cottage peaceful life is like living in our own B&B and so far, everyone who visited here, have nothing but gushed how pretty and relaxing it is.

please book,soon. you know you are always welcome. xx

pub night

one thing about living in Norfolk, is that the pubs here are not only un-chained (not part of a big chain,lol) -- most are family run which gives that personal feel of the place.

apart from great ales, the pubs here in Norfolk are gastronomic adventures in itself. they have proper restaurant chefs.

Adrian and i thought of having to taste as many pubs in the county of Norfolk as much as we can while we live here.


a week ago, i wasnt feeling well. so Adrian asked me to go across the house and have fish and chips.

sadly, we went late so they ran out of fish and chips (which is very popular on a friday night) so we had something else.

i tried a swig of Adrian's ale

it was awful (for my taste.. Adrian swears its a good ale)

i love it when he is happy

british pub

adrian's garlic mushroom starter

my duck spring roll

steak and ale mushroom pie and a plateful of veggies

my fave from the local pub: their prawn green curry.

**

i am looking forward to getting a good sweep of all pubs in this side of West Norfolk.. i have a year or two to do that.

this new life

today was quite hectic. just like the last few days since i started in this new life.

after work, adrian picked me up at the hospital to make it home and have some cup of tea before we head out for my dentist's appointment. it was quite unusual for me to be able to walk to the dentist's clinic and not have to drive. and for the dentist to chat with me and said,we have the same Lord for a landlord. it was supposed to be fun,if only i didn't have to be poked and prodded like a piece of meat and have my mouth open that wide for a very long time.

after the dentist, we decided to have a meal in the pub. i always suggest the pub because they're one of the few restaurants that cook a variety of meals (which has also some asian fare apart from the usual british food). Adrian had some savoury pie (gammon and sausage cream cheese potato topping) and i had my prawn curry (complete with naan bread and poppadoms). I love that they get the rice done right, so unusual in a British restaurant.


**

just last week, i was told i could not take my annual leave in one go. unlike the previous hospital where i worked,i could a month's leave in one full sweep. but because where i am, i am doing a rotation of sorts, i can only take a two-week leave tops in one go. i had to break the leave in bits and not in chunks. plus, because of the time i came in, i got the worst time schedules for a holiday. oh well, being in Norfolk is like being on holiday for me (for now).

saying that, this made me sad because i have (almost) 3 weeks annual leave left before April (which is another term of annual leave dates,which gives me another set of 5 weeks). now, Adrian and i are thinking where we could use this little bits of time to spend somewhere. its a shame to spend only a short time to travel long haul to cebu where fare costs an arm and a leg. portugal? paris? new york? (daydreaming of course!).

maybe our old home. i miss it,too!


**

on saturday, i was excited. i had whole day in London to spend money for the day. (my birthday money was spent on that day,finally). i bought myself new shoes (work shoes,though) and i also bought Adrian a pair (for his daily use).

i also bought some cosmetics (my Nars eye-primer is on its last pat), and a liquid liner from Nars,too. i went crazy, i also bought my current fave (D&G's The ONE parfum), and a Michael Kors Bag.

To think i was only there to buy the work shoes.

I hurriedly rushed home to entertain guests who needed to be fed. Crazy. Thats what happens if youre only at home in a very short time on a weekend.


**

here is Adrian. he is now a 'house-husband'. he is supposed to be retiring but it seems retiring is out of his agenda at the moment. he is busier than ever, and to top it all,he needs to drive me to/from work, and do the domestic works needed in the house (curtains,etc). thats part of his job description now and he also works from home doing teaching packages for two colleges and the Open University. when i got home, there were stacks of paper getting marked on the dining table.

but look at him. he looks more relaxed and happier here. he said,he cant wait for spring when he can start seeing some bulbs growing.

i hope i made the right decision. i keep asking myself uprooting my life here to Norfolk (for two years) is a big step worth enough for some lifestyle change. so far, so good. i wish it continues long.

the olde post office

some good news today! i woke up to find a letter thru the mailbox from the agent confirming myself and the mister as the successful bidders to the cottage.

so here as promised, are the pics of cottage.

**

the cottage was not ready when we viewed it. the backgarden was in chaos as the workers of the landlord chopped off the trees (Adrian and i wanted to stop them coz we would have loved the trees in the back),and was just about to landscape the backgarden.

Speaking of landlords, the owner/landlord is actually Lord Howard, a blue-blood said the agent, who owns half of Norfolk and has his estate rented to the public.

this cottage was the old post office, thats why the address will read The Olde Post Office, Castle Rising. cute, isnt it?

the upstairs was not ready, and the bedrooms had no carpet yet, and there were still missing windows, but you know,when you step into a property and you feel an instant 'home' feel to it? thats how it felt like.

the other house in the 'burbs which we liked too, was ready to move in, as soon as we wanted to, it had everything and four massive rooms. this cottage was not ready at all when we saw it, the carpets downstairs were shoddy, the upstairs were still exposed floorboards and garden a total mess, but Adrian and i fell in love with it. it is smaller in comparison to the house in the burbs (same rental price), this one has no cooker installed (which means Adrian and i have to buy a new one,too, which makes this move quite expensive more than it should) yet the feeling of making it a 'holiday' in norfolk than just a 'living-to-work' in norfolk as an idea is so much more inviting.


the kitchen in this cottage is tiny, yet i think, the real log-burning fireplaces, the reception room, the overall feel of the cottage won us over. (plus Adrian's dream of selling artisan organic breads by our doorstep while i'm at work is too tempting for him to quash,lol).

**

I suppose some things are just meant to be. I whispered prayers to God, who i asked guidance and answers for everyday. i know i have been very doubtful about this move (this new job in far far away Norfolk from my home), but whenever i feel down and skeptical on some things about this sudden life-change, something happens that really tells me, this is it.

so yeah, this is it.


**

photos of the Olde Post Office (photos taken by my canon g10. i wasnt able to bring my DSLR that day, as we were too busy walking in and out of houses,there were just no time to log about a heavy camera).

when we move in, more pics to come of the newly organized backgarden. (altho Adrian said, do not hold your breath about their 'promised landscape', their idea might just be evened-out grass..i thought, i do not care, i'm willing to live in its present condition now)

**

the small cottage...

those picket fences will be white in a month's time.

at the foot of our garden is the hill, where the castle is seen..'muni-muni',here i come

the bricks and stone is local to Norfolk, i forgot what they call that kind of sanding..

its a tiny cottage, but its bigger inside, 3 bedrooms upstairs, a dining area, a kitchen (small kitchen,though, something i have to get used to) and a big nice lounge (with log-burning fire)

a closer view to the back..i think it would be nice to share afternoon walks there, up the hill to the castle, and blurt 'he-loves-me-he-loves-me-not' litanies..

my sister Ana who will be visitng me next year with Mama said, her Jane Austen fantasies might come true in this place (im sure!) and my bestfriend Kharla who loves solitude and reflective silences would cherish to be in a place like this..even my hiking buddies would love this place..this village is a wonderful hike trail.

a cottage that hopefully would be home to me and adrian while i work.

a 10 minute car-drive to/from work.

the idea of being on-holiday-and-working at the same time makes this move a gentler move than the big blow it was supposed to feel. I am one for being rooted and finding home.. when it took me years to get adjusted to where i was, here again, was an opportunity to land my dream job, yet i had to move far away from my present home.

i think this cottage and the village will be kind to me..because this was an answered prayer.

i showed these photos to my family in FB the day we went there, and my brother said "nice sya, but murag dako dako gyud mo'g silhiganan," hahaha, commenting on the chaos from the garden.. the reason why we could only move on the 1st of october is because Lord Howard wanted to do work in the garden before we move in. [i would love to meet Lord Howard and get a portrait of him],lol.

**

thank you for being excited with me. you know who you are! ;-)

relocating

i tiptoed around the subject. i mulled on the thought. i fannied and tossed and moped about the prospect.

the inevitable has come.

Adrian and I are relocating to a very picturesque county called Norfolk.

and i am really scared, excited, and happy and sad about the thought.

why the mixed emotions, you ask? anyone who has moved a gazillion times in their past life and just wants to be rooted to 'home' would understand the fear and sadness.

anyone who loves the prospect of a challenge and adventure feels the excitement in my shoes.


**

i dont know. i am a bag of nerves. but who am i to say NO to a fantastic job offer? (and a possibility of being in the countryside and fields, and starting afresh would not give this offer a chance?)

plus, beggars cannot be wussies.. the talks of second recession coming to europe (the world) and being someone who has a prediliction to overhoarding cosmetics,shoes and camera lenses + a bottomless gut for japanese sashimi has no right to say NO to job offers immediately right after getting my degree?

i am scared, but i think, i'm going for it anyway. you would be next to know what'll happen around the corner.

wish me luck.

celebrating thursday evenings

...because i get reprieve from waking up at 5:45 am tomorrow (friday).

today

today was a mishmash of beautiful little moments.

i came home from work and saw that the washing i did from the night before were hanging by the washing line and obviously dried from the sun. that might be nothing to you, but for people like me who work and have no time to put in the washing line (and not sure of what weather it is today) tend to just dry my washing in the dryer. it was lovely, because nothing beats having clothes (most of the wash were towels and rugs) that smelt of sun and wind. i don't know,it just smells different. sun+wind+fabric conditioner vs dryer+ fabric conditioner is not a match. and most of all, it was Adrian who hung them on the line. ohh, i love me a house husband.


we had a nice chat and a snack of chocolate crosissant and coffee and decided to have a fish dinner. i was craving for some good old 'piniritong isda' and 'sinangag na kanin'. i live for my cravings. thats how i roll, day to day. its no wonder i am this size,but who cares right? (my diabetic doctor does,actually,haha).


after filling up with dinner, i checked my mobile and saw that i got a text from my classmate telling me that our final results are out in our university email. i hurriedly opened my mail and saw that indeed i got honours, but more than what i expected. i got an upper second class honours. Adrian was so proud of me and jokingly said, that 'not bad for a last minute student', referring to my attitude to studying which he wasnt too keen on. but at the end of the day,it really doesn't matter what i got, what matters is the love i have for the profession and to the clients i work for.

some wonderful snippets of my day, i hope you have many more in yours too;-)

home is where the bread is

i arrived home yesterday to this.

freshly baked bread by the master bread baker.

he made use of being at home.

i was so hungry i asked one loaf to be sliced. (instead of a cracker which i was thinking of having).

coming home to this, is joy unequalled.