Taking you back to 22nd March 2007

Day 5

Current mood:tired

We've been working at the orphanage for 3 days now.  We work from about 7.30-8am until the kids fall asleep at naptime after lunch - about 12-1ish.  That feels like a day in itself, it's that tiring, and the afternoon is a new day where we do what we want.  Monday and Tueday afternoon, we spent hours preparing colouring sheets with both the Waray-waray and English words on it, and wordsearches, after the panic from one of the orphanage staff telling the children to sit down and listen to Ate Joy and Ate Grace!  We had nothing prepared that first Monday morning and both stood there speechless.  It's pretty hard to communicate with the kids when they don't know much English and I know very little Waray-waray (the local dialect).  We've had a couple of Waray-waray lessons at the centre with Ethel and Lorena so have learnt a few phrases such as "good morning", "you're good!", and some necessary childcare words such as "don't!", "no!" and "stop!".  Anyway the colouring sheets and wordsearches have been going down a storm and have kept them entertained for about an hour or so every day.

I've just realised that I haven't yet mentioned the bathroom situation just yet...  Well, remember I said I would have to prepare for a tub and a bucket?  It's worse than that.  The bathroom is a simple small downstairs toilet with tiles on the floor and a dim light.  A low down toilet with no seat/cover - and, more importantly, no flush!  The shower (I use that term very loosely) is a bucket underneath a low down tap and a small scoop.  This doubles as the flushing system - you have to put 2 or 3 scoops of water down the toilet after you've been...  For a shower, you have to brave the cold water (well you didn't think it would be warm water did you??!) and just pour it over you.  It certainly wakes me up in the morning (and Evan, whose bedroom is above the bathroom, can probably hear me yelp) but in the afternoon, it's really nice and cools me down after sweating buckets at the orphanage.

Other news:
Natasha has left the Philippines and returned home to Dubai after having to go to hospital with stomach pains.  Hopefully she gets better soon and continues her travels in Cambodia etc later in the year...
Oh and we're getting the hang of the jeepneys!  I can confidently pay the driver, tell him where to turn left and when to stop!
And I finally had pancit yesterday, hooray!  My favourite...

And they lived happily ever after...

As mentioned in my earlier post, my sister recently found one of my favourite childhood books amongst the stacks of ancient Ladybirds that had been handed down to my niece.  I was distraught when I thought it had been lost forever - particularly when I saw how much they are being sold for on ebay!  Not that I'd ever sell it, it's a classic.



Here's why I liked it so much: Cinderella got not just one fabulous dress in this particular fairytale.  She got THREE!  Plus her wedding dress!



Oh and of course they lived happily ever after!

4 days and counting...

I must spend 3 weeks every month, browsing ASOS, ebay and various online stores looking at all the pretty dresses, shoes, bags etc I can't afford but vow to get once I've been paid.  Then the highly anticipated day arrives and do I get everything I've been hankering after?  Hell no...  I'd have to be a highly paid executive to fund my shopping habit.  I end up getting a few pieces that ultimately do not excite me.  What is up with that?! 

Here are the bags I've been oohing and ahhing over this evening (and no I don't work for Dorothy Perkins!):


This sunny ochre chain cross body purse - I also have strong urges to buy it in all the other colours: berry red, green, and camel!  18 pounds is a bit of a steal but maybe not when you multiply it by four!




Coral Twist Lock Bag (also with a chain to be worn across the body)


Cream & Coral Twist Lock Bag


Blue Croc Twist Lock Bag (again, with a chain to be worn across the body - sense a theme??)

Ok, a different style:

Coral Tab Corner Clutch Bag - this is oversize and I'm a big fan of oversize bags and clutches as I read a while ago that the bigger the bag, the smaller you look.  I need all the help I can get, especially when I go out with my super slim friends!  I do see some logic in it though, with the proportions - I can hide my belly behind a large clutch and a tiny wrist purse is only going to make me look larger.  I have a couple of Dorothy Perkins oversize clutches and I love them so I think this will be number three in my collection.  Adore the coral colour and suspect it will be used often in the summertime!

Forgotten smiles

I have been a bad bad blogger recently, with no posts to speak of.  Truly sorry ladies.  I'm sure some of you can sympathise: going to work when it's dark, getting home when it's dark therefore no light for taking photos and no sunshine for inspiration!

So what IS making me smile at the moment?  My new Blackberry Torch for one...


My gorgeous little niece who I'm babysitting tonight...

Making my hubby breakfast in bed on Valentine's Eve (we make a point to celebrate not on Valentines Day!)


Being pampered for a day at Whittlebury Spa with the girls, for part 2 of my friend's hen do...

Finding one of my favourite childhood books that I thought was lost forever...

The return of The Good Wife...


and the introduction of a new character, the delicious Michael Ealy (from Barbershop and more recently Flashforward)...

And the anticipation of PAYDAY!  Cha-ching!

Pop the champagne open, I've won my first blogger award!

Trumpet fanfare please - I've won my first Blogger Award.  I was reading through my hundreds of blogs on Google Reader and spotted my name... I was shocked, I can tell you!  I was like "OH!  It's me... is it me?  Yes, it's me... Are you sure???" 

But before I start digress into an Oscar-style speech, let me introduce the gorgeous "Pretty In The Desert" who was the stunning sweetie who gave me first award - I love her blog!  When I first discovered it, I was immediately hooked and read her entire archives too.  Her style is so easy to read and feels like she is an old friend just chatting away to you.  I particularly love her quick tips and her cat Bowie is super cute too!  Much love and appreciation hun!  I'd award her right back if I could!

Not long after winning my first award, I was also lucky enough to win my second!  This time from "The "E" Girl" whose blog is extremely informative!  She puts so much time and effort into each post.  Thanks so much!

Renee's award requires me to tell you 7 things about yourself and as I'm a fairly new blogger and could come across as a bit of a closed book so far, WHY NOT!

1. Born in Chelmsford (yes I’m an Essex girl), I'm half Filipina, half English but my dad actually grew up in Kenya. His grandmother was from Barbados so apparently I'm part Barbadian, but you'd never tell just by looking at me!! 
2. I don’t have a sense of smell. And yes I can taste. Trust me, I would be a size 6 if I couldn’t taste – I’d live on lettuce leaves.
3. I know dance routines to some very cheesy songs that I should be embarrassed about, eg. most of Five and A1’s songs, Spice Girls…
4. I like cooking but resent it if it’s expected of me. I make some mean chocolate brownies!
5. I was in Miami when Versace was assassinated there.
6. I have a weird phobia of buttons. I don’t wear clothes with buttons, except jeans/trousers. I don’t know why. Lol!
7. I would like my career to be based in charity and non-profit organisations and hope my mortgage doesn’t force me to veer away from this.

OK, so there are a few rules that came along with this award:

Post about the award and copy the rules

Link to the person who gave you the award

Choose 3-5 blogs you would like to give the award to and link to them as well. Leave a comment ontheir blog to let them know!

Important: The award is for unknown and/or new blogs only!

Here are the blogs that I've "discovered" and think deserve this award, however I would not describe them as unknown as they nearly all have more followers than I!

Sam's Round The World Travels

Miss LV

Dear Joy

Brian Tomlinson Photography

Laura & Boutique 73 (I wish Laura would blog more as I don't often have time to pop into her shop which is tres cool!)

My last award would have been to another Laura whose blog You Are So Pretty Laura I discovered a matter of weeks before she decided to depart from the virtual world... Sad times.  I'd read back through her archives and had really enjoyed them, she seems like my kinda person, plus she's from the same town as me.  But I can relate to feeling uninspired sometimes, I often feel overwhelmed by the talent and interesting lives of other bloggers.  Fingers crossed she misses blogging soon and returns!

Thanks again for my awards, I will be feeling very chuffed for quite sometime!  Very very happy right now!

Hoping for the Jimmy Choo perfume for Valentine's Day

Tamara Mellon, co-founder and president of stiletto mecca Jimmy Choo, is now bringing us another fabulous accessory: perfume.


This latest accessory, following handbags, sunglasses and scarves, has been on the cards since a 12 year worldwide license agreement was signed with Inter Parfums, who also distribute Burberry and Paul Smith perfumes.  Tamara features in the ad herself and describes the scent as "feminine and empowering, with a lot of sensuality to it".




The new stylish scent is described as a fruity fusion of green top notes, exotic tiger orchid and orange blossom, with a touch of toffee to add a twist.  Sounds gorgeous!

The textured bottle, inspired by Murano glass, is tres pretty but simple and I would even resent throwing away the purple snakeskin box!  I'd like the large bottle that she's clutching in the ad please!  Unless The Hubby decides to treat me to a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes (unlikely!), I would be very happy with this instead!  Much more affordable since prices start from £38.50.

Rumour has it, Tamara is also intending to expand into jewellery, watches and men's "choo's".  This woman has serious ambition!  Her shoe and handbag empire is already worth £500 million, has been made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (whatever that means!) and an ambassador for UK business.

BTW, loving the Jimmy Choo Uggs:







(pics taken from Jimmy Choo website)

Way out of my price range - maybe I'll just experiment with a few embellishments on my cheapo ones instead... ;-)

So Hubby - if you're reading this: you have no excuses for not knowing what to get me for Valentine's Day!

Soap & Glory Fantastic Value Bundle

I was gutted at missing out on the Soap & Glory deal Boots offered before Christmas.  So when I spotted on Money Saving Expert that they were bringing out another deal, the Soap & Glory Fantastic Value Bundle, I vowed to make the same mistake twice!  They delayed the deal from Monday (I even set myself an alarm) to Wednesday so I was chomping at the bit and finally cheered a "hurrah" when I clicked the buy button.

And it just arrived an hour ago!


The bundle consists of 10 treats:

• Soap & Glory Marvelips, 4.53g (a lip crayon)
• Soap & Glory Clean Mary, 180ml (cleansing milk)
• Soap & Glory Wash Almighty, 500ml (body cleansing gel)
• Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker, 7ml (lip plumping lip gloss)
• Soap & Glory Slimwear, 190ml (puff-draining peptide balm)
• Soap & Glory Return to Slender, 200ml (intensive body-contouring gel)
• Soap & Glory Touch & Glow, 75ml (moisture lotion with micro-bronzer beads)
• Soap & Glory Eye Lift, 15ml (eye cream)
• Soap & Glory Mighty Mouth, 9ml + 2 x 4g (lip stick and lip shine)
• Soap & Glory Wizard of Flaws, 1ml (line filling luminizer & concealer)

Woop woop!  Fingers crossed I will have in one month's time, Angelina Jolie lips, a wrinkle-free face, a skinny bum and cellulite-free thighs! Hmmm.  The RRP for this is a whopping £80.98, but the offer was for £30.63!  Bargain!

December's deal sold out quick but this month it is still in stock two days later, not surprisingly since everyone's always broke after Christmas and New Year.  So grab this bargain while you can!

I will try to remember to do some reviews but I will probably give some of these items as gifts.  Shame it didn't come in a nice vanity case or something!