blessings

i started to open this blog, a minute just before i was heading for bed.

the angel took the words out of me, and i am left with nothing to say.

so let me greet you with these flowers instead.

i hope your coming days/weeks are as exciting, if not, much more wonderful and exhilirating than mine.

***

on Friday, the 24th, is my sister Ana's birthday. i miss celebrating her birthday with her. one day, someday.

on Saturday, i am photographing a wedding for a couple who decided to tie the knot after x number of years of being together and having had children together.

on Sunday, I am meeting my mama at the airport...and the rest of the weeks/months will just be catching up with her and hopefully be able to pamper her more.

***

have a lovely night/morning/day to you. 

xxx

pre graduation night

monday early evening, the 16th.

we travelled all the way from norfolk to essex, to stay at a friends' house. the same friends who were coming in to witness my graduation because i already paid for two other tickets for my mom and my sister (who by the way could not make it--ahh,well, plans).

it was nearer to leave from their house to my university, which could take an hour in a good traffic. (because of the olympics traffic however, it took as 15 minutes longer to get to uni the next day).

we arrived expecting just two of my friends in their house, but i wasnt expecting another friend and her partner to be there,too.

it was a happy reunion. one over stories, and food and gifts-- all a surprise to/for me.

when in a rush, make-up has been the normal sacrifice of late.

i couldn't sleep that night. its that feeling of just having had a great night, the buzz of a wonderful evening took a long time to wane, not being in your own bed and the anticipation of an event i would have loved my family to witness but they couldn't.

*

the next day, i received my degree. with second highest honours while my friends and husband looked on with pride.

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! ;-)

the village

adrian and i found the village we wanted to live in in the countryside. it was a toss up between a bigger house (which could accommodate guests and visitors) and was 5 minutes walk to the hospital, or a small idly cottage in this wonderful village. it was practicality vs. heart. The bigger house was ok, but the neighbourhood would just look like where we live now, a cul-de-sac in the suburbs while this small cottage we also wanted was in the heart of a tiny ancient village in the town's history.

our hearts won in the end.

we applied for the house/cottage in this village. but its not definite yet whether we get it or not, because there is another person who applied a day before us. the good thing was, we brought in our documents the very same day we applied and paid the lawyers fees and application fee in cash, while the other person was still waiting for his cheque to clear. We have one foot ahead of him. We just pray he will not push through in the end.

These are photos of the neighbourhood we wanted to live in. The photos of the house/cotatge will soon be blogged if we hear any news from the estate agents (hopefully the end of this week).


[note: my gulay, the renting documents and ceremonies you need in this country is atrocious. it feels like a massive criminal investigation, too. the thing is, Adrian and i have not experienced renting, so we do not have a word or letter from a previous landlord, so we need more documents from Adrian's work, and my work to give to them (rental agents). Although on Friday,we brought in our documents from bank statemens, proofs of address, passports, driver's license,etc, the letters from previous landlords, employer's testimony we are still trying to get hold of this week. so the contest is still on. may the best tenants win!]


**

the name of the village is Castle Rising..its made famous by the hill which has a castle on it

the only pub in the village.. its a pub smack in the centre

a tea house which also serves homecooked meals

the Unique tea room..

the barn which is also a boutique..it has a dental clinic on the side too.. yes, everything is very 'countryside-feel'..

the name of the boutique which sells shabby chic interiors is called Unique too.i m sure the owner also owns the tea room..

thats the mound of the hill, where you see the top of the castle..i havent been yet, but if were lucky enough to get the cottage we will surely visit it.

the tea house..this was the facade.taken from the garden..

more of the Unique barn-cum-store-cum-dentists clinic

this is the Arts and Craft centre of the village..(something to investigate what they have here)

the village green where horses are grazed and let loose..

this picture was taken from the gate of the cottage we wanted to rent..this would be the view from our gate if we get the cottage..

a view of a rising Castle..historic little village this one.

**

we applied for the cottage in this village,and we are waiting for news that we are getting it, by early next week. so for 1 week, Adrian and i will be staying in a little B&B in the side of town while i work for a week.

**

I kept praying for the cottage to be given to us, but like what my mom told me, if its not meant to be, it will never happen, as long as ive tried my best to get it, then i can say its meant for someone else..

by next weekend, you would know if we get this village, (a 10-15 minute drive to my work) or a very suburban detached house 5 minutes walk to my work..either way, both are win-win..

**

how are you, my loves?

**

[EDIT: the new bloglook just so matches the photos from the village,noh? i hope it is a sign,lol..

many thanks once again dearest Patricia for your work and excellent skills..im officially a FANCY GIRL]

anchored

It seems i will not miss my usual joints after all.

Adrian and i have decided to NOT rent out our house and we just come home every weekend. So by Friday evening, i'm back to our comfy kingsize bed and green rococo bedroom. We will just rent a small place in Norfolk for the meantime while i'm working there.

Well the decision to not rent OUR house and come back home is only a temporary decision and will be reviewed after 6 months of being in Norfolk. Until we find we are adjusted there and having a circle of friends,maybe then we will rent this place out.

The decision therefore will have an impact to our lifestyle. We will live frugally for a year or so (as if we aren't doing so already!) (since were paying for two bills: electricity,gas,cable,water, council tax for two houses + rent in Norfolk), just so i could complete this rotation.

Such an amazing sacrifice on Adrian's part, just for my career advancement.

I married a wonderful person.


***

Adrian's reasoning: the short term sacrifice will lead to a more long-term advancement.

I keep repeating that in my mind. Just in case i get scared and bottle it out.

But no. I wont.


***

New position means no annual holiday leaves until after 6 months.

This is my biggest sacrifice of all.

I am thankful that my brother and his girlfriend are kind enough to postpone their wedding to next year for mine and Adrian's benefit. Such selfless people, my brother R and his girlfriend S. But my brother has wonderful plans for the following months so he has his hands full.

I am sad that I am foregoing going home, and I am officially breaking my being-home-in-the-Philippines-every-calendar-year-rule but in the current climate of employment in the UK, id sure miss my job if id lose it.

This has been the BIGGEST reason stopping me from taking on this new job. But back to Adrian's statement, its just a short-term sacrifice.

The person who said being an adult is easy was a liar.


**

whats the news on your part,my loves?

in absencia

so many things have happened between now and the last blogpost, you would not believe it.

i want to write them down, and organize my thoughts, but the mind is willing and the body is not. cliche yet so true. i have been working long hours with the present work to finish my hours, so i can start at the other place, and doing a hudred and 1 things at the same time,that im beat at the end of the day.

right now, im preparing for a birthday/goodbye party for tonight..my inlaws are coming tonight. next week my friends. we came home late last night from a full day of driving back and forth to norfolk looking at some properties we 'might' rent and went to drop my official documents at the hospital at the same time. the day before, i was working from 7AM til 5pm got home, cleared our loft and went grocery shopping and cooked a storm for two (am more hungry than ever).

i would be in joan river's 'worst stressed' list this year, i have a feeling.


**

PS.its September already? where did the days go?

oh ye of little faith

my contract has arrived through the post today. it waits for me to sign it.

i am worried. i have no faith in myself anymore when it comes to decisions. i have so many people i carry on my back and little things that require my decision just makes me panic.

if you are not taking care of a family, or a husband, then u must think i am crazy for feeling all these. but anyone who are in my position,would perhaps understand.

its like going for something i really really love and not even sure if the effects of this move will affect all the people i have on my list.


**

background:

i applied for this job one crazy early hours of the morning online after writing my thesis (that long ago!!) because i saw it was near commuting for me (thats what i thought!). trust my eyes to read Kings Lynn, as Kings Cross. (so i get confused, the names here are so redundant, one cant help it)

after i hit the SEND button, i saw the word Norfolk. I got confused even further.

in the morning Adrian thought i was crazy applying for a job in Norfolk and said, NO i cannot commute a 6 hour roundtrip drive.

but added, its a beautiful holiday county. i said, i know, my friends go there alot for holidays but i never got interested.

shame, i thought. it offers the best rotation (a term we use for general assignments before we specialize) as it gives me the best of my fave specializations..(paediatrics, stroke, brain injury and trauma and orthopaedics, mental health,etc). it will give me all that specializations after, which u hardly see nowadays being offered.

so i thought, not to feel upset, i will not probably get an interview anyways.


**

got the invite for interview three weeks ago.

Adrian said, attend the interview, because you will get a practice of future interviews. and lets make a day out of it too.

i said, ok, wow! (more excited about the day trip than the interview)

**

friday the 19th came.

the drive there was nice and pleasant. especially passing by beautiful fields.

the hospital was big and so high-tech (what was i thinking?). and everyone are so friendly.

i asked the receptionist where the PT department was, she walked me all the way there. (bonus points!)

i asked her where i could park, she took me there, and wrote for me the lists of places i could kill time, if i want to as i was an hour early. (in London and these parts, you would be lucky if the receptionist will even look your way.--NOT an exaggeration).


**

i was not nervous about the interview. you know, when you go for something you don't really care if u get it or not.

my mindset was id attend it, write down the questions and style of interview and then wait for other interviews to come. (one is on the 9th of september, and one in first week of october but are not as nice as this rotation,sadly).


then i saw the other girls that came and sat near me.

there were 5 of us all recent graduate from different universities. one from Uni of East Anglia, one from Plymouth, from Peterborough, one from Norwhich..

all of us live far bar one the girl who was a Norwhich grad lived in Kings Lynn (Norfolk) and said,she is soon to marry and has a house in Kings Lynn and wishes to get the job (desperately, i might add). In my mind, she's nice, i don't mind giving the job to her.

the rest were friendly, and chatty and were willing to relocate. all of them single so it was easy for relocation (bar me).

the man came out to give us name tags, and congratulated us because we were 5 candidates plucked out of 86 applicants.

told us that the first part of the interview was a practical test and part two was a round-robbin interview done by 7 specialists, and all 5 of us were to go around after 5 minutes of Q&A.

"here goes interview harakiri" i muttered to myself.


**

the last person to interview me asked me: "why did you apply here in Norfolk, u live so far".

i was (partly) honest. i said, "i needed a job that could offer me the best rotation to my name, and since the recession,the NHS has cut down all the budgets for good specializations for newly qualified therapists, which your hospital still offers.".

i did not tell him however that i am an ignoramus to the different towns and counties of England and that Kings Lynn and Kings Cross looked the same on paper and that they both have the same hospital name,too. and that I am NO WAY taking this job too.

he asked again "why OUR hospital?" why not 'James Piaget Hospital down the road, or ".." (i forgot the other one)..

i said " i didn't know they were hiring". ok, this was a big mistake. never under any circumstances answer this way if you were after a job. i thought this man is trying to catch me out. (oh ok, i must have said it better than that, but the gist is, i only applied to their hospital because they were hiring rotational therapists. and i might also have added that "after reading your hospital brochure, i know you offer specialized training to staff which other hospitals do not do anymore).

anyways,he wrote something on his paper and with furrowed brows. i thought this is where i FLUNK the interview.


**

adrian was sat reading his paper in the parking lot (the parking lot is surrounded by parkland, i must add). so he wasn't under the summer sun (which was in full shine that day), so he was under a shady leafy tree.

he said "that was a LONG interview". it was. i left the building by 4:30 pm and by then we were scared we'd get stuck in motorway traffic so we decided to go home and promised to come back another time to do some sightseeing.

how do u think you did? i said im sure i aced the practical test (i do 'hoisting' every day where i work right now).

and the specialist interviews were great (you can tell that the interviewers loved your answers when they start to talk about their own exeperience even if its your interview not theirs,haha)..except the HR person who asked me why i wanted to work in their hospital. i was blunt in telling him that i didnt care which hospital would take me as long as its a nice rotation. but overall, i think i answered 98 percent of what they want from someone.

A: lets charge it to experience.

ME: i shall.


**

saturday

A: what if you get the job?

Me: the plan was to not accept the job...

Me: shame we didnt look around and took pictures its sucha lovely town

A: will go holiday there..



**
sunday

A: i have a feeling you got the job

Me: i do too. but i hope i wont. im scared to move.

A:well, we can talk about it more. its doable.

Me: please, don't confuse me.

- - -

emailed my two friends: Kharla and Leah and they said, yeah, u might have to consider the move.

**

monday am:

they rang the house around 9am.

she told me i got the job i said, can i ring her back.


me: adrian we have to give an answer, id be too embarrassed to say NO they would think i wasted their time

A: they wont tell you off for not taking it. they understand you have to relocate. but, we could move.

me: really?

(we ended up discussing renting a small place in Norfolk, a cottage (in our dreams) and he could garden while i work. go out on evening walks by the field, and go to the farmers market every weekend, and come back to our house here every month)

i ended up accepting the job. the lady on the phone was happy and said, their HR department will be sending the contract for me to sign.

**

ever since monday, i get highs and lows about the move..

that's in another blog altogether.

a blip (hopefully)

i am stuck at home today because Adrian is not feeling well.

i hope its just a funny turn in his system, and nothing serious. (something stressful for his age i think is not good..an upsetting news has a different effect to someone who holds his emotions in)

last night i had to call the ambulance, because i was worried finding him on the floor. we took him to the hospital and he was so angry being in the hospital, he self-discharged.

i am so scared.

i dont know. the thought of losing the one person who have nothing but dedicated his life to me is like having life cut off itself.

i love this man, and God knows how i needed to be at work today, but id rather lose livelihood and be penniless than be without him.

scared and sad is an understatement.

i just know, the future is not worth what its worth if he's not there.

wish us well.

(and you, my loves, keep well too)

drive-by shooting by the seaside

went via the seaside this afternoon.

it was so sunny and lovely.

**

passed by the old town

a

view of the estuary

the greenery

**

**

normally, we would get out of the car when we pass by the sea and get an ice cream, today however, we were just passing through.

its my tuesday day-off and i can rant if i want to

hello, i am ragen chelo and i think i am pre-menopausal.. little things irk me and irritate me lately to which i do not normally blow my top off until now.

i can feel simmering expletives coming out in my chest, but i hold it in, thinking 'who would give a toss?". but recently, maybe the lack of chocolates (according to my great friend Aileen Siroy,who would put it that way) and the increase of gremlins in my peripheral view that just made me a little bit on the opposite side of the happy scale.

thank goodness, a sight of my favourite chocolate cake got hold of my top (sounds like a toupee,lol) before it totally flew a hundred miles away...

you know what blew it off the last few days?

1) rioters who pretend they are rioting because of protest but are actually opportunistic thieves to loot merchandise and wares in the city shops (then sell the items the next day for cheap price due to no warranty and no return policy).

i absolutely am disgusted with people who use other people's hard-earned money and honest living for their pleasure to destroy or for personal gains. and using a protest as a leverage. bloody scums.

annnd, if you are protesting, you dont need to hide your face under balaclavas like robbers do. England is one of the most humane countries that let people protest for any reason at all, so hiding your face just shows a totaly different intention..the thieving kind.



2) people who enquire and so eager to book me (last minute) for my services (knowing full too well that i am working too!)then cancel due to (??), sounds like they have gone out of they way to get to me yet once you tell them how much, there is some problem..whats crazy is,i go out of my way to agree to it because they are friends of friends..what's crazier is i am dirt cheap for a NVQ trained make-up artist. BECAUSE I LOVE the bloody art of make-up. i do not do it as my main occupation..but i also need it to cover my expenses for the materials and my travel cost, right? not only that, i am forgoing a day at work, so that needs compensating too right? now if you're only paying half of what it should cost normally, then you are not really 'lugi'.



here are some text and email exchanges that went on the past few days..

and the email exhanges..

***

the conversation and the agreement goes really well, until you tell them that they have to pay for it..and that, the friend who recommended me got a really (almost free) price because we are good friends... its not like theyre paying heavens,too..for a UK trained make-up artist, i am dirt-cheap, because i only need to cover travel and material cost (i give Shu Uemura false lashes, for crying out loud!!!, they get to carry with them to the event a pack of Body shop facial powder papers,and a give-away clinique lipstick/lipliner depending which items i have many of)..

i went to school for this..I was trained by BAFTA and movie make-up artist Lucretia Foley-Train and went to do a two week-NVQ two week training in London School of Beauty and Make-up. (since i can remember, i was doing family and friends/classmates make-up since i was in elementary programs to university productions til i was working in radio, and cousins' beauty pageants and proms). i did not just wake up one day, and was tld i that i do good make up by friends (friends always say they like your make-up because they are friends..you need teachers or colleagues who u are not friends with, to tell you the truth..and believe you can really do it).

i have had quite a few makeup clients and so far, they have been recommending me by word of mouth, and so far, all said, they have learned a few tricks (i teach them how to maintain it,while im at it), and i also recommend products (cheap ones) that are good which they can get thru grocery aisles if they want to.

really, a half price, for 3 people, and for me to travel all the way to the outskirts of God-knows-where (fuel prices are expensive you know),and to take a day-off paid work to do it, i think (know) i have asked right.


our time is valuable. esp if you are not doing it for 'hobby' or just 'playtime' either. when you are using serious tools and material of the trade. (saying that, i did one for free-of-charge two months ago for my uni classmate, because she was honest and told me ahead of time, that she didnt have much money, and she wanted to be beautiful for her daughter's wedding because her ex-husband was there with his new gf,and i am never one to turn down a good chance like that..serious revenge make-up face,hahaha..success btw, the gf and the ex-husband broke up,and she is getting back with the husband)


if i have to do three faces for free to people who buy expensive champagne to get sloshed from,and are earning more money than i am , id rather go to the market and enjoy my day-off on friday, and use up and enjoy my time with my the husband who rubs my feet every night and who tirelessly support me in my endeavours.

..and fyi, champagne is spelled with a G, not a Y.

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..