I had a very good weekend. I had my friends over for a barbecue on Saturday. My friend Chicoy Enerio arrived late on Friday from London. The boot of his car was laden with pinoy goodies for me. He bought me a sack of jasmine rice, various packets of sauce mixes, sukang paombong, polvoron, a huge bottle of patis, choc nut, bottles of knorr seasoning and bottles of Barrio Fiesta Bagoong! He and Peter played golf all of Saturday and returned just in time before our guests arrived at 5pm. I marinated the steaks and chops for most of the day and prepared the honey roast sausages for the barbecue. Peter is the barbecue guru and he cooked those meats perfectly. I made all the salads and dips.
We all had terrific fun drinking and eating. The weather was great as well and as you can see from our clothes we had perfect temperature as well.
Peter and Chicoy stayed up late and woke late! The following day I made pork and chicken adobo, grilled aubergine and topped this with Chicoy’s bagoong. We ate al fresco. The adobo over steaming rice was just irresistible! And eating outside next to the cornfield was sublime.
After lunch they watched the World cup in the attic—fortunately England won the match. Right after the game Chicoy headed off to London. Good thing though because it started to rain. It was such a lovely weekend spending time with good friends.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Saturday, June 17, 2006
Oh what a lovely day!
Today is my 49th birthday and it is an absolute scorcher! They predicted 27 deg Celsius and it looks like they could be right. There is a gentle breeze blowing the little capiz chime I hanged on the window and it is creating such a relaxing sound that I feel like nodding off in front of this PC. Now, why am I up here when it is great outside? Simple, it is midday and it is too hot outside to do anything. Never underestimate the English sun! One of my staff suffered a heat stroke the other day—and she was from South Africa!
Yesterday turned out to be a very nice day in spite of its awful start. Very early in the day while I was driving to work my phone rang. I instantly had this sinking feeling in my stomach. I don’t know but I have very good instincts. Anyway, by the time I reversed to my allotted car space, I dreaded to listen to my voicemail. True enough it was a call from my sister informing me that our father is not well at all. I kept on telling myself to keep calm while walking to my office. I then texted my sister and she called me on my landline. She sounded tearful and under a lot of stress but she explained the situation very well. I really do not know how I kept my composure that morning.
However, half an hour later a colleague of mine came into my room and she instantly asked if I was okay. I must have looked like a zombie and then suddenly the tears fell. My boss also arrived and I told him. After talking to someone about my fears and worries, I managed to get back to work. Whenever I feel like that, I know that work always cures it. By the time I left at 4:00pm, I received several birthday cards and a huge begonia from my boss! Later on Peter and I had dinner at the Golf Club and Peter gave me my birthday present--something I really want, a Canon Powershot A640 digital camera! The day which began in disaster ended up beautifully. My colleagues at work are turning out to be good friends to me and I have a suspicion that they actually care.
Oh by the way, I share my birthday with a very famous person, none other than the Queen of England!
Yesterday turned out to be a very nice day in spite of its awful start. Very early in the day while I was driving to work my phone rang. I instantly had this sinking feeling in my stomach. I don’t know but I have very good instincts. Anyway, by the time I reversed to my allotted car space, I dreaded to listen to my voicemail. True enough it was a call from my sister informing me that our father is not well at all. I kept on telling myself to keep calm while walking to my office. I then texted my sister and she called me on my landline. She sounded tearful and under a lot of stress but she explained the situation very well. I really do not know how I kept my composure that morning.
However, half an hour later a colleague of mine came into my room and she instantly asked if I was okay. I must have looked like a zombie and then suddenly the tears fell. My boss also arrived and I told him. After talking to someone about my fears and worries, I managed to get back to work. Whenever I feel like that, I know that work always cures it. By the time I left at 4:00pm, I received several birthday cards and a huge begonia from my boss! Later on Peter and I had dinner at the Golf Club and Peter gave me my birthday present--something I really want, a Canon Powershot A640 digital camera! The day which began in disaster ended up beautifully. My colleagues at work are turning out to be good friends to me and I have a suspicion that they actually care.
Oh by the way, I share my birthday with a very famous person, none other than the Queen of England!
Friday, June 16, 2006
Splendour in our patch
Peter and I took the dog for an early evening walk yesterday in the woods. This woodland is located further up the hill from our house. The country lane that leads up to it is very narrow due to the overgrown hedges on either side. Cow parsley, hollyhocks foxgloves, brambles, geraniums, phlox and wild ferns brush lightly against the car as we drive by. We’re always on the lookout for wildlife weaving in and out of the hedgerows. The place is teeming with insects, birds and small mammals. However, we had to be on red alert for any oncoming vehicles as the road is very narrow and steep. It is a squeeze to get one car through never mind two!
Although the woodland is only a five minute drive away, it felt like we were the only ones for miles around. However, the place was far from quiet. The birds were singing to their heart’s content as it was time to roost. We had to rely on our sense of hearing as we couldn’t see any of birds. We heard the cooing of wood pigeons and flap of wings but we couldn’t see where they were. The sun was dipping against the sky casting long shadows against the trees. It was very dark in the forest and I couldn’t see much as the dappled light created a rather ethereal atmosphere. It was eerie but exciting. I was filled with anticipation but I wouldn’t want to be there at night!
After our walk we headed for the top road and parked the car in order to savour the spectacular views over the Axe valley. The sun was at its dramatic best and all we could see around us were rolling hills and trees. Yes this must be paradise, or close to it and I still cannot get over the fact that we live in the middle of all this splendour.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Talking about the weather
The weather’s finally changed and it is very hot and muggy on some days. I guess when you’re so used to cool temperatures anything above 17 degrees Celsius is considered “warm”. As per usual, I spent most of my spare time pottering around in my garden voer the weekend. It’s that time of year when plants experience a massive growth spurt—just like teenagers! Gardeners are busy keeping this in check or else they will be all over the place. Peter did a bit of tree “surgery” by cutting back the ceanothus. It is actually a bush but Peter managed to prune it back to look like a tree and it looks great. We also had to put gravel on bare soil to keep the moisture in.
On Tuesday the weather got a bit cooler—thank goodness for that! However, it still feels quite muggy and it is not raining, just cloudy.
Work is really hectic. There is always someone in my office who needs something from me, paperwork that needs seeing to and proposals to be written. Then I have to check that everything’s ticking over in all the areas that I manage, etc. I have to be organised in my current job. I am very good in multitasking—a skill I learned with my former jobs. Of course I sometimes miss the buzz of my journalism days—the travelling and meeting interesting people but my current employment isn’t bad at all. I am learning something new almost everyday like how to work with committees, how to get around bureaucracy, how to be more efficient in spite of it! I cannot survive in a job that doesn’t fire my imagination. They give me new projects here regularly to keep me occupied and I like that. For me work is not just a 9-5 activity, it needs to interest me or else life will be intolerable.
In a couple of weeks term ends and we start our summer vacation until October. That means in a couple of weeks I shall be heading off to the Isles of Scilly for much needed R&R. What a treat that will be! Not having to wake up by 6:00am and dragging myself out of bed to be out on the road by 6:45am. I am looking forward to lazy days by the beach staring out to sea instead of staring at my monitor. I can empty my mind of worries, enjoy the wildlife and just eat a lot of sea food.
Last night Peter and I went up the garden and we noticed that everything’s either in full bloom or about to burst into bloom. Oh what joy to see nature unfolding before me! We have a BBC programme called Springwatch that goes on for three weeks and I watch it religiously. I am learning a lot from that show. I love watching birds nesting and feeding their chicks and then see these baby birds fledge. Fantastic!
I’ve always loved nature ever since I was a nipper and I was always drawn to secluded places. I like my own company and I never get bored. There is always something to do.
On Tuesday the weather got a bit cooler—thank goodness for that! However, it still feels quite muggy and it is not raining, just cloudy.
Work is really hectic. There is always someone in my office who needs something from me, paperwork that needs seeing to and proposals to be written. Then I have to check that everything’s ticking over in all the areas that I manage, etc. I have to be organised in my current job. I am very good in multitasking—a skill I learned with my former jobs. Of course I sometimes miss the buzz of my journalism days—the travelling and meeting interesting people but my current employment isn’t bad at all. I am learning something new almost everyday like how to work with committees, how to get around bureaucracy, how to be more efficient in spite of it! I cannot survive in a job that doesn’t fire my imagination. They give me new projects here regularly to keep me occupied and I like that. For me work is not just a 9-5 activity, it needs to interest me or else life will be intolerable.
In a couple of weeks term ends and we start our summer vacation until October. That means in a couple of weeks I shall be heading off to the Isles of Scilly for much needed R&R. What a treat that will be! Not having to wake up by 6:00am and dragging myself out of bed to be out on the road by 6:45am. I am looking forward to lazy days by the beach staring out to sea instead of staring at my monitor. I can empty my mind of worries, enjoy the wildlife and just eat a lot of sea food.
Last night Peter and I went up the garden and we noticed that everything’s either in full bloom or about to burst into bloom. Oh what joy to see nature unfolding before me! We have a BBC programme called Springwatch that goes on for three weeks and I watch it religiously. I am learning a lot from that show. I love watching birds nesting and feeding their chicks and then see these baby birds fledge. Fantastic!
I’ve always loved nature ever since I was a nipper and I was always drawn to secluded places. I like my own company and I never get bored. There is always something to do.
Friday, June 09, 2006
Mercury rising
...and that includes my temperature! Can you ever believe my luck? I called in sick today because I felt absolutely terrible when I got up this morning. I coughed and spluttered, and my head was pounding. I thought to myself, why am I valiantly trying to go to work at this state? Surely they wouldn't miss me for a day? The problem is I hardly take sick days so when I am not at work it gets noticed immediately! Anyway, I left voicemails at work telling them to survive without me for a day and went back to bed.
I must have gone back to sleep because I woke with a start when I heard the phone ringing. It was our window cleaner and he was asking whether it was okay for him to clean the windows today. What luck that I was home! I wanted the windows cleaned for a long time. Anyway I dragged myself out of bed and soon enough they arrived with ladders and cleaning equipment. I then decided to do some housechores. That was fine for a while and even considered going to Tesco--our local supermarket but in the finish I started feeling rough again so I went back to bed only to be woken up by guess what? ...another phone call! It was Peter asking me how I was and volunteered to go food shopping instead. What a relief!
Now I do not know whether or not I'll go back to work tomorrow. Depends how I feel in the morning. It is hot outside--mid 20s celsius. The garden looks fab but I just do not have the energy to potter about. The thought alone makes my head ache.
I must have gone back to sleep because I woke with a start when I heard the phone ringing. It was our window cleaner and he was asking whether it was okay for him to clean the windows today. What luck that I was home! I wanted the windows cleaned for a long time. Anyway I dragged myself out of bed and soon enough they arrived with ladders and cleaning equipment. I then decided to do some housechores. That was fine for a while and even considered going to Tesco--our local supermarket but in the finish I started feeling rough again so I went back to bed only to be woken up by guess what? ...another phone call! It was Peter asking me how I was and volunteered to go food shopping instead. What a relief!
Now I do not know whether or not I'll go back to work tomorrow. Depends how I feel in the morning. It is hot outside--mid 20s celsius. The garden looks fab but I just do not have the energy to potter about. The thought alone makes my head ache.
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Sizzling time
We finally had the warmest and brilliant weekend of the year! It was positively sizzling—well almost! Nary a cloud in the sky and it was hot, hot, hot! But what do I do? I caught a nasty cold didn’t I? I didn’t want to lie in bed so I spent the weekend pottering about in my garden—pruning, clipping, watering and repotting. The heat didn’t help and by the end of each day I felt quite rough. Now I am not just bunged up but coughing as well…and the weather continues to improve.
This morning I woke up and as I drew my curtains I only saw this thick fog across the valley. It was thick enough for me to drive with full lights on but by the time I reach the A35 it somewhat dissipated. My office faces the morning sun and it can get pretty hot during the summer. Here in the UK, we hardly have any air-conditioning—just heaters so you can imagine how stuffy it could be. However, I have a really good electric fan and I am able to open a small window to let in the cool air. I also have my blinds down to keep the glare out of my monitor. There is hardly any humidity so I do not perspire as much as I would in the Philippines. The downside is my little Peugeot doesn’t have air-con so it feels like an oven when I drive home in the afternoon. Yesterday I had my sunroof open!
On Friday, my colleague and I went to the launch of a new restaurant in town called Wagamama—a fusion of Asian cuisine (Japanese and Chinese). It was absolutely fab and I do not remember having such a brilliant lunch for a long time! That night Peter barbecued some steaks and sausages for dinner. My in laws loved them and so did I but towards the night I felt like crashing. By that time my cold was taking hold.
It’s really funny because at the moment I could hear a bird singing right outside my office window. That’s quite regular thought because my building is surrounded by mature trees. I love this campus, the gardens are absolutely beautiful. It’s a pity I do not get to walk around it more often but I know I am lucky to work in a place like this. Speaking of work, I am pretty happy where I am and what I am doing. I have free rein to do what I think best for my team and my ideas hardly get knocked back. I also feel a lot settled although there are days when things do not seem go my way. What I do is to try to get my balance back and reassess the situation. I also noticed that I usually get what I want in the end. That’s why I have more “patience” now. The other thing I like is job satisfaction and the appreciation I get from my colleagues. My initial career path in communications has ended but I am using a lot of the skills I learned as a journalist/comms manager to cope with the intricacies of administration. I know I am good at setting up systems and procedures and I am ace as far as organisation is concerned. I like project management and multitasking. I like schedules and deadlines. What I hate is uncertainty and ad-hoc, knee-jerk reactions.
I had a chat with my boss yesterday and he said I will take over another unit in the organisation. They were impressed with the work I’ve been doing with my team and would like me to develop this underperforming part of the group. I like a challenge like this. I am also in charge of communications- electronic and otherwise- and I get to design a lot of information paraphernalia.
Recently I have been involved in organising the University’s Graduation Ball at Powderham Castle. It took a lot of organisation, talking to suppliers, making payments, insurance, liaising with caterers, marquee builders and entertainment, etc. We’re expecting 2000 people all told and it is an evening sit down dinner with fairground rides, bands, security etc. I am going to the ball this year as part of the organising team. Peter bought me a sleeveless gorgeous black chiffon gown embellished with a dark red rose in the middle of my bosoms and a delicately beaded dark red shawl to go with it. I feel good in it and I don’t look too bad either! At the rate I keep having to attend these events, I need to restock my glad rags.
I know I shouldn’t be counting but in three weeks’ time I will be off to the Isles of Scilly in Cornwall for a two week holiday. I shall miss my garden though…not to mention Sam who’s going to the kennels for the duration.
This morning I woke up and as I drew my curtains I only saw this thick fog across the valley. It was thick enough for me to drive with full lights on but by the time I reach the A35 it somewhat dissipated. My office faces the morning sun and it can get pretty hot during the summer. Here in the UK, we hardly have any air-conditioning—just heaters so you can imagine how stuffy it could be. However, I have a really good electric fan and I am able to open a small window to let in the cool air. I also have my blinds down to keep the glare out of my monitor. There is hardly any humidity so I do not perspire as much as I would in the Philippines. The downside is my little Peugeot doesn’t have air-con so it feels like an oven when I drive home in the afternoon. Yesterday I had my sunroof open!
On Friday, my colleague and I went to the launch of a new restaurant in town called Wagamama—a fusion of Asian cuisine (Japanese and Chinese). It was absolutely fab and I do not remember having such a brilliant lunch for a long time! That night Peter barbecued some steaks and sausages for dinner. My in laws loved them and so did I but towards the night I felt like crashing. By that time my cold was taking hold.
It’s really funny because at the moment I could hear a bird singing right outside my office window. That’s quite regular thought because my building is surrounded by mature trees. I love this campus, the gardens are absolutely beautiful. It’s a pity I do not get to walk around it more often but I know I am lucky to work in a place like this. Speaking of work, I am pretty happy where I am and what I am doing. I have free rein to do what I think best for my team and my ideas hardly get knocked back. I also feel a lot settled although there are days when things do not seem go my way. What I do is to try to get my balance back and reassess the situation. I also noticed that I usually get what I want in the end. That’s why I have more “patience” now. The other thing I like is job satisfaction and the appreciation I get from my colleagues. My initial career path in communications has ended but I am using a lot of the skills I learned as a journalist/comms manager to cope with the intricacies of administration. I know I am good at setting up systems and procedures and I am ace as far as organisation is concerned. I like project management and multitasking. I like schedules and deadlines. What I hate is uncertainty and ad-hoc, knee-jerk reactions.
I had a chat with my boss yesterday and he said I will take over another unit in the organisation. They were impressed with the work I’ve been doing with my team and would like me to develop this underperforming part of the group. I like a challenge like this. I am also in charge of communications- electronic and otherwise- and I get to design a lot of information paraphernalia.
Recently I have been involved in organising the University’s Graduation Ball at Powderham Castle. It took a lot of organisation, talking to suppliers, making payments, insurance, liaising with caterers, marquee builders and entertainment, etc. We’re expecting 2000 people all told and it is an evening sit down dinner with fairground rides, bands, security etc. I am going to the ball this year as part of the organising team. Peter bought me a sleeveless gorgeous black chiffon gown embellished with a dark red rose in the middle of my bosoms and a delicately beaded dark red shawl to go with it. I feel good in it and I don’t look too bad either! At the rate I keep having to attend these events, I need to restock my glad rags.
I know I shouldn’t be counting but in three weeks’ time I will be off to the Isles of Scilly in Cornwall for a two week holiday. I shall miss my garden though…not to mention Sam who’s going to the kennels for the duration.
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