There and back again

Ah where shall I start? September has been a very hectic month of travelling. First was a jaunt in the Eternal City—Rome. It was fabulous seeing St Peter’s Square, the Basilica, the Sistine Chapel and the Trevi Fountain! Peter and I both threw coins to ensure that we come back to the city. Our journey back was hampered with delays. We arrived so late and the airline lost our luggage! It was left somewhere in Brussels. Also going through airport security was like going through a high security prison. We had to remove our shoes and belts (good thing my jeans held up), hats, etc for inspection. We were only allowed one hand carry and if you’re unlucky security will unpack your bag for further scrutiny!
Our hotel in Rome was just spitting distance from the square. Well we didn’t really spit to measure it because the Italian police will come down on us so fast it will make our heads spin! They were quite intimidating the polizia—even if they all looked like Robert DiNero. Peter and I enjoyed our dinners at the hotel as well. We ate outside the courtyard listening to a man playing beautiful piano music nearby. It was very romantic and the food was delish. We also had a chance to see how the apostolic glitterati lived…and they lived and ate well judging from the amount of food and drink they had at dinner! Maybe priesthood isn’t such a bad profession after all. You just need to live in Rome. Haha.
The day after we came back to England, our luggage was delivered to us. It barely gave me time to pack my things for my trip to Manila. I left on Tuesday and arrived in Manila on Wednesday morning heavily jet lagged because a brat refused to sleep and cried all the way from Amsterdam to Manila. I was sitting behind the little monster totally crazed out from lack of sleep! Why can’t its mother just slip the tiny banshee a bit of sleeping pill just to shut it up? Spare me!
Anyway, my sister Rosa, her son Timmy and my Dad picked me up from the steaming airport. I forget how humidity affects me. I suddenly felt so thirsty I practically begged for water when I arrived. Good thing they sold mini bottled water nearby.
The next few days were spent shopping, seeing friends and family, going out of town, gossiping with my sister and best friend Melanie, enjoying my nephews and godsons and reacquaint myself with the intricacies and intrigues of a large family. The latter wasn’t easy. I guess I am too independent and detached to be able to understand the complexities surrounding an extended family.
I was sad to see the decline of my parents’ health. Suddenly they looked frail and old in my eyes. Will I be the same in my dotage? Will I be as vague?
One good thing was watching my sister and her boys have fun at the beach. They are all good swimmers and all of them bar the youngest Kiko, who’s four years old, all dive. I saw my best friend Melanie and spent time with her family as well. It was such good fun. I also met up with my old university friends. I love shopping in Manila. There are so much beautiful products around especially jewellery! I love it. I also had some dental treatment (ughs!). My niece is married to a very nice and good dentist and I thought I’d take the opportunity to see him and it worked! At least it stopped me from gorging more food in my mouth for the rest of my stay. Haha. We also threw a party for my niece and her fiancé. They got engaged recently and will marry next year. I was requested to be one of their principal sponsors. Isn’t that marvellous? I am thinking on what to wear. Definitely a gown. I think I am going to have one made similar to the gown I wore for the graduation ball. Something to look forward to. Now I am back at work and thinking did that all happen last week? Time does fly!

See you in September

I can’t believe it’s September! One thing I did notice though is the days are getting shorter. Sunrise is at 6:30am instead of 4:30am and sunset is just after 7pm. Soon I will be leaving the house in the dark and arrive in the dark. Although it is still relatively warm I just know autumn will turn into winter. I always loved autumn anyway. The colours are so intense and saturated. I think spring and autumn are definitely the time when most gardeners feel happy with their toil.
In a few days Peter and I will be heading for Rome, the Eternal City. I hope it lives up to its name. I remember the first time I visited Paris. It was on one side a romantic city because of its history but on the other side it was littered with dog poo. Paris is not very welcoming with visitors. It is quite aloof that way.
London is different. It does not have the Parisienne chic but it makes you feel like you’re part of it. One time while walking down Regent Street I felt I was in the middle of the universe. It was fleeting but unforgettable feeling.
Anyway, after we come back from Rome I will be flying to a totally different but nonetheless interesting city—Manila. I am really looking forward to seeing old friends and family. I am also going to visit my alma mater—The University of the Philippines.
These are the things I would do when I get there:
• Eat- southeast Asian and oriental food
• Shop
• Go for a massage
• Talk and catch up with friends
• Have fun with family
Actually the main reason I am going is to see my father who is not in good health nowadays. I guess when you hit your mid 80s, life takes a different form—a lot slower and more reflective. I am also going to spoil my mother a bit. She needs it because she’s the kind of person who bends over backward to help the underdog—sometimes I think too backward that people take advantage of her generosity. But that’s another story. It is going to be a very interesting two and a half weeks in September.