26 July 2004
I have been doing an out-of-season spring cleaning over the weekend in preparation for my friend’s visit this week.
My colleague (and good friend) Jane tells me that I have a spotless house but I am always amazed and horrified at the dirt and dust two people and a dog could accumulate. I washed down the windows and roof of the conservatory on Saturday. I have a telescopic sponge and squeegee that I use for this purpose. Imagine me on a ladder trying to get bird droppings off the glass roof! Then there’s the gardening! I do wish I had more time just to potter around the garden but the house chores need doing and I reluctantly go back indoors.
It took me ages to really clean the main bathroom. I wanted the toilet to sparkle, even in places where one does not have to see. I wiped the skirting boards, doors, picture frames etc, etc. I admit I am obsessive that way but I couldn’t help myself. I need to be in a very clean environment. My office is the cleanest and tidiest place in this building! In fact I ordered special box files for my bookcase so they all have the same colour and size. I also designed “official” labels—no handwritten labels for me! Even if we have a cleaner, I have a mini duster in my office and I dust around me. I just want everything clean, neat and very tidy. And no, I am not seeing a psychiatrist! I get stressed out with mess.
My other consuming passion aside from gardening is food. I do like my food. I miss Filipino food a lot. I think it is one of the best in the world but then again I am biased. I rate it up there with Japanese, Thai, Italian, Chinese and French.
I was watching UK Food in SkyTV yesterday when I came across this SEasian woman cooking what looked like paella. I knew instantly she was from the Philippines. True enough, the presenter (a UKTV Chef) was in the Philippines as part of her Far Eastern cuisine programme. In spite of my misgivings, I decided to torture myself and watch the show. There was adobo, puto, pancit, lumpiang ubod, etc,etc. It was a good job I was already cooking chicken curry when I saw the programme or else I would have suffered more! They filmed the segment in Negros and she ended up in Hidden Valley. So there I was alone in the house feeling hungry and very homesick.
I keep on kicking myself how I took pinoy food for granted all the time I lived there. I should have eaten all the lumpiang ubod, pancit malabon/molo/luglug, kare-kare to last me a lifetime!
My idea of pure pleasure is a large table full of the best pinoy food and all I have to do is to eat all day, preferably lounging in the beach with family and good friends. That, for me, would be heavenly bliss!
Monday, July 26, 2004
Saturday, July 17, 2004
China Town blues
17 July 2004
The last time we visited Manila, my best friend and her husband took us to China Town in Binondo and Hubby thought that was the most interesting part of the trip. He loved the little shops and trinkets they sell. However, he was appalled at the pollution of the river. I have to say I was horrified as well and very sad that the local government does not seem to care! They had a similar problem in London years ago when the Thames was getting polluted. It took them a decade to fix the problem but they did it. Now the swans are back (by the way, all swans in Britain are owned by the Queen so no-one are allowed to kill them etc) and the air quality has improved. This also coincided with the prohibition of chimney fires, which polluted much of London air. There is a marked boundary between London and the Home Counties where chimneys are banned from being used. Good thing gas and central heating came into the picture. Anyway, I digress.
I suppose I notice the dirty streets more when I come home for a visit. It is not meant to be a criticism, just surprised that people put up with it. Correct me if I am wrong but just because people are poor, does it mean they have to be slovenly and dirty as well? The damage to one’s health and safety could be devastating. Simple things like not urinating, defecating or spitting in public areas should be enforced. The government should encourage recycling and pride in one’s environment. It is the same reasoning that I couldn’t understand why some people smoke. It is a slow way to commit suicide. I believe that it is possible to quit if you are disciplined enough. I remembered when I first met my hubby. He used to smoke a couple of cigarettes a day (mostly at night watching TV). I told him I was allergic to smoke and it affects my asthma. Since he really hasn’t seen me having a major attack, it was not an issue for us. He just made sure the room was properly ventilated when he smoked. Then he switched to cigars. He and my father in law enjoyed their cigars and ales/scotch after dinner. At one time I even bought hubby cigars from America. Anyway, one day he witnessed an attack and that made him aware of my problem. Suddenly, about four years ago he simply told me he quit smoking altogether. At first his father was sceptical because although hubby was not a chain smoker he had the odd one every now and then. But to his credit, he’s never puffed another cigar or cigarette since then. A year or so after that my father in law also gave up his cigarillos. We are now a non smoking family and my house is a non smoker’s haven.
What I am saying is people could change their habits if they put their minds to it. Smoking is an addiction and poisons the body like no other. It is not a normal way of life. Even at work I take a dim view about smokers. These people will be a burden to our National Health System when they get sick but then again life isn’t fair to those who wish to walk the straight and narrow.
Enough of my ranting!
Hubby and I are celebrating our anniversary in by staying overnight in the Cornish coast in Newquay. I can’t wait for the mini break. I’ve been working really hard and I’m ready for this.
The last time we visited Manila, my best friend and her husband took us to China Town in Binondo and Hubby thought that was the most interesting part of the trip. He loved the little shops and trinkets they sell. However, he was appalled at the pollution of the river. I have to say I was horrified as well and very sad that the local government does not seem to care! They had a similar problem in London years ago when the Thames was getting polluted. It took them a decade to fix the problem but they did it. Now the swans are back (by the way, all swans in Britain are owned by the Queen so no-one are allowed to kill them etc) and the air quality has improved. This also coincided with the prohibition of chimney fires, which polluted much of London air. There is a marked boundary between London and the Home Counties where chimneys are banned from being used. Good thing gas and central heating came into the picture. Anyway, I digress.
I suppose I notice the dirty streets more when I come home for a visit. It is not meant to be a criticism, just surprised that people put up with it. Correct me if I am wrong but just because people are poor, does it mean they have to be slovenly and dirty as well? The damage to one’s health and safety could be devastating. Simple things like not urinating, defecating or spitting in public areas should be enforced. The government should encourage recycling and pride in one’s environment. It is the same reasoning that I couldn’t understand why some people smoke. It is a slow way to commit suicide. I believe that it is possible to quit if you are disciplined enough. I remembered when I first met my hubby. He used to smoke a couple of cigarettes a day (mostly at night watching TV). I told him I was allergic to smoke and it affects my asthma. Since he really hasn’t seen me having a major attack, it was not an issue for us. He just made sure the room was properly ventilated when he smoked. Then he switched to cigars. He and my father in law enjoyed their cigars and ales/scotch after dinner. At one time I even bought hubby cigars from America. Anyway, one day he witnessed an attack and that made him aware of my problem. Suddenly, about four years ago he simply told me he quit smoking altogether. At first his father was sceptical because although hubby was not a chain smoker he had the odd one every now and then. But to his credit, he’s never puffed another cigar or cigarette since then. A year or so after that my father in law also gave up his cigarillos. We are now a non smoking family and my house is a non smoker’s haven.
What I am saying is people could change their habits if they put their minds to it. Smoking is an addiction and poisons the body like no other. It is not a normal way of life. Even at work I take a dim view about smokers. These people will be a burden to our National Health System when they get sick but then again life isn’t fair to those who wish to walk the straight and narrow.
Enough of my ranting!
Hubby and I are celebrating our anniversary in by staying overnight in the Cornish coast in Newquay. I can’t wait for the mini break. I’ve been working really hard and I’m ready for this.
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