Tag Archives: The probing wife

Blogs, Uncategorized

On Serendipity and Taking Chances

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Serendipity truly happens, but it will never come full circle not unless you take that chance.

– Hannah

December 24, 2013.

A day I will forever treasure. I was in Copenhagen, Denmark, lying on my bed, tired and exhausted from an extra job I just finished. I was meaning to just lie in the bed for a few minutes before I head towards my friend’s house to celebrate Christmas with her family.

Suddenly, she called me and said that the dinner is canceled since they can’t cook because their oven is broken. Great! I was already looking forward to dinner since I haven’t had any proper meal the whole day. Exhaustion kicked in and I fell asleep for a few minutes/hours.

I was awakened by a call. My phone has been ringing endlessly. Still sleepy, I picked it up and saw that it was my friend. I picked it up and tried to sound like the dinner cancellation didn’t matter to me since I do not want her to feel bad, especially on the eve of Christmas.

She said that we can celebrate Christmas in their house since they were able to fix the oven. I was so happy! I immediately told her that I am on my way. Maybe it was out of hunger, I was able to tolerate the harsh winter of Denmark without warmers. Still, in my old worn out shirt, I put on pants and winter jacket and off I went to her house. I know I look like a crap. But I didn’t care! All that mattered to me during that time was FOOD.

Oh, did I mention I haven’t taken a bath yet? Gross, right? lol. I packed a dress though for the dinner and planned to take a bath in her place. (see I can be a lady too!well, not really, but whatever!) When I arrived at the bus station near her apartment, I swear I can smell the roasted chicken she was preparing. I immediately went to their apartment and I was welcomed warmly. I was just resting for a bit then planned to take a bath when their guest room door opened.

Without any exaggeration, I swear I felt my heart skipped a bit. He has this smug and snob looking face but deym, I didn’t care! He was so good looking and he walks like…Rihanna.Kidding! My friend introduced him and said that they are officemates. We shook hands and then he went to the bathroom. Wow! how can he manage to look good even if he hasn’t taken a bath? How can he manage to smell good even…(STOP HANNAH!You sound like a psycho deeply smitten stalker!)

Anyways, I tried to act lady like (impossible!) despite wearing ragged clothes and looking “dirty”.lol I asked my friend why she didn’t tell me that they have visitors. I was really embarrassed. She laughed at me and said, its okay.

So after the mystery guy finished taking a shower, I immediately went in. Ah! There it is again. That manly cologne that tickles my nose. The smell that… (STOP IT, YOU WEIRDO!) I showered like I have never showered before. I used the best smelling soaps they had and rubbed my skin the hardest possible. I wanted to look fresh. I wanted to smell amazing. I wanted to… get his attention

And it occurred to me. This is weird. I mean really weird. 1. I was recovering from a break up (Didn’t bother me that much, though. He wasn’t worth a tear.) 2. I was fasting from relationships. 3. I do not fall that easily. So me, acting all smitten and giggly after just one meeting is so out of character!

Anyways, I just let it be. I tried to contain myself and said this is nothing. I am just acting all stupid again and exaggerating things. Anyways, I curled my hair, put a little makeup and sprayed a bit of perfume. (Who am I kidding?I almost drowned in perfume!)

We had a dinner and exchanged gifts. Every Christmas eve, at exactly 12:00 in the midnight, I make a wish. I usually pray for happiness and abundance but that night was different. That night, I prayed for God to give me the love I deserve and said Thank You. I don’t know why I prayed for love nor why I said thank you. I just did.

I spent the night at my friend’s house. The visitor offered me the guest room and he slept on the couch. The following morning, I woke up early and saw the visitor sleeping soundly but I can see he feels cold. So I grabbed my blanket and covered him with it. And then I glanced at his face and I felt like my heart melted like there was a need for me to hug him… (MANIAC!!!!!!!!) I contained myself and just tried to cook breakfast instead. He was awakened by all the noise I was making and offered to help me.

After Christmas, we became inseparable. We would always “hang out” or go to my friend’s place to chill. We became good friends and he told me about his relationship status, or should I say, lack thereof. He never once had a “typical” girlfriend. It was all just experiment and no commitment stuff for him. I lectured him about taking care of girls’ heart.

After everything he told me and all the warning from my friend, I know this is not the guy I want. BUT there is something in him that really just pulls me back. He said he likes me, but I was scared. What if I am just a part of his game?

His intention to me was tested when one of his..ermmm fling (FU-BU) came to Europe to see him. (Yep, girls fly a thousand miles just to see him!) He said he will sleep in our friend’s house but I told him that is very impolite. He said he talked to her already but she still insists on going. He seemed so frustrated so I told him it is fine. I mean we are not in a relationship yet so there is no point for me to tell him what to do nor to get frustrated because he might hurt my feelings. (I was really hurt that time. The nerve of that girl!)

He picked up the girl at the airport. I didn’t go with him because I want to test him as well. If he really cares for me, he will update me or call me even if the girl is around. And lo and behold, he did. He kept on texting me to the point that, I myself told him to stop calling and texting and entertain his “friend”. He introduced me to the girl and we were civil. Eery civil. But anyways, enough about her.

The point is, that guy proved to me that he truly loves me. That he is willing to change just for me. That guy who has commitment issues proposed to me a week after we have been together!

His butt-hurt FUBU’s don’t want to give up, though. We had to go through a lot just to get into the state where we are now. That guy, whom I met on Christmas eve was the answer to my prayer. I realized he was the “THANK YOU” in my Christmas prayer because that guy, whom I met on Christmas Eve is now my husband.

Love is never easy. It is so precious and so beautiful, but it is meant only for those who have brave hearts. Serendipity truly happens, but it will never come full circle not unless you take that chance. That leap of faith. That willingness to fight for it. And my husband and I, we fought for it, we took the chance…and now we are as happy as one can ever be.

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Blogs, fashion

Trusted Instagram Shops

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The people who know me well definitely know that I hate shopping. Unlike most people, I do not find happiness in trying out new clothes or shoes. I dislike doing those because I feel like it is very tiresome to do the fitting.

That is why when I was introduced to Instagram shops, I was immediately hooked. I do not buy a lot of items but there are a few shops that I have definitely tried and tested.

Here’s the list of the shops I recommend:

  1. B Boutique.

    This is a luxury online shop that sells ONLY authentic items from Japan. They sell a wide range of products. They have cosmetic products, luxury bags, clothes and even jewelry. One of the things I like about this store is that they have a physical location as well. If ever you are in Antipolo, make sure to drop by in this store. Oh, did I mention, they accept layaway and credit cards too!

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2. Theainstashop.

This shop is a fashionista and beauty enthusiasts’ heaven! If ever you need anything for your OOTD or makeup collection this is the shop for you! You can check out their physical location as well but be ready to spend some cash as this store sells items at a really low price and I am sure you will be tempted to buy one or two items.

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3. RavenCloset.

This online store sells branded clothes. They have both brands new and pre-loved. This is actually one of the first online stores that I have used and trusted. If you base solely on their followings, you will know that this IG store is really legit!What’s amazing about this store? The owner is very polite and prompt in answering questions PLUS all the items as sold at a very cheap price!

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4. Primanddapper.

This store basically sells clothes. They sell items that are perfect for your OOTD’s. What do I love about this store? The price! The clothes are so trendy yet super affordable! This store is the perfect manifestation that fashion does not always have to break a bank.

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5. Ervaise.

This is a relatively new online shop. They sell jewelry and luxury bags. What I love about this shop? They ship worldwide and they have

This is a relatively new online shop. They sell jewelry and luxury bags. What I love about this shop? They ship worldwide and they have money back guarantee if the bag is proven fake!

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6. 9.Jewels.

This is a clothing store that sells really fashionable Korean inspired clothes. The owners are beyond amazing and really polite! If you want to buy affordable yet trendy asian fashion inspired clothes, this store is perfect for you!

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7. Prelovewithlove.

This is a shop that mainly sells secondhand items but they also have brand new ones. They are selling luxury bags as well as shoes. What I love about this shop? The price! So cheap!!!

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This post is not yet done. I will update this every time I have tried buying something from other shops. 

 Disclaimer: This is not a paid post. I wrote this because I simply want to share the online stores that I trust. 

Blogs, Travel

Trip to London: Day 2 Walking Tours

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When my husband and I went to Prague, Czech Republic two years ago, we joined a FREE WALKING TOUR. If you are new to the concept of a free walking tour, this basically means that you do not have to pay before hand the tour that you want to join. You will pay the tour guide VOLUNTARILY any amount that you think the tour is worth.

We had fun during the tour in Prague so we decided to do the same in London. I feel like it is such an amazing experience seeing the whole city in the eyes of a local. Plus some history lessons wouldn’t hurt. I searched online for free walking tours and I was so happy when I found one company who does it.

Free Tours by Foot offers a lot of tour options but my husband and I were so interested in 2 (at first). We signed up for London All in One Tour and Jack the Ripper Tour.  Our second day began at Green Park Station because that is the assigned meet up for the London All in One Tour. We met our guide, Margaret. There were a lot of us in the tour but it wasn’t too crowded. Just enough for us to feel like we are really tourists.lol

Tour Route

The whole tour was strategically planned. It saved us a lot of time and made us really enjoy the whole tour. The tour guide was so amazing and entertaining. She clearly knows a lot about history as well as about the royals. The tour was divided into two parts, morning and afternoon.

This was the schedule for the morning tour: (From free tours by foot)

I have to be honest, it was a really long walk! That is why having a really amazing guide helps. She keeps us all entertained despite the fact that it was scorching hot that time. My husband and I learned a lot about London through the tour. So despite the long walk, we were very happy that we took that tour.
The London All in one tour ended at Tower Hill. It was the most amazing end for the tour. The view was just perfect! We can see the Tower Bridge as well as the river Thames. Both looking equally picturesque!
After the London All in One Tour, we went to our next tour which was the Jack the Ripper tour. We chose this tour because I have always been intrigued on who Jack the Ripper is! It  seem creepy and scary, good thing I was with my husband! Our tour guide was Jessica. And she was equally amazing! I couldn’t remember exactly but her Phd has something to do with killers and murders so it was pretty cool!
The tour was not like any other tour. She presented it in a very theatrical way that it seemed to me like I was watching a movie rather than in a tour. In every stop, she gots me into thinking about who Jack the Ripper really is. And with every stop, it just gets more and more exciting to the point that I did not want it to end! Unfortunately, it did come to an end but we are happy because all of our effort in walking did not go to waste! The two tours we have had were by far some of the best we have ever had. So Kudos to Free Tours by Foot for hiring the best tour guide in the whole London!
After each tour, we gave our tour guides a tip. And we do not regret paying them because they truly deserve it! They were more than amazing. So if ever you find yourself in London and looking for the best way to roam around the city and at the same time learn about it’s history, join Free Tours by Foot!
Disclaimer: This is not a paid advertisement. I just had an amazing experience with the company so I wrote about it. 
Blogs, Travel

Trip to London: Day 1- After the Storm

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If you have been following my blog, you know that our first few hours in London fell nothing short of an adventure. It was like a race against time. Had we been contestants on Amazing Race, we would have won the race, no doubt about it!. If you haven’t read about it, feel free to check it out here. During those times, I can say it really pays to marry a Superman.

After the fiasco, we went to our Airbnb apartment and rest for a while trying to catch our breath and get a grip of what just happened. The moment we recovered, my husband and I realized we’re famished. Good thing his friend came to the rescue. He works for a Japanese restaurant in London as a chef and he invited us to come over.

Travel Tip: If you will stay in London for 3 or more days, it best that you get an Oyster Card. We bought an oyster card good for 7 days so we paid £37. Oh, when you are done using the oyster card you can return it and then get a refund of £5. 🙂

Since our apartment was conveniently located near the city, it was pretty easy for us to go the restaurant. My husband and his old friend said their hi’s and hellos. I wasn’t paying much attention because all that I can think of was food! They talked about our little adventure that day until our order was served.

The moment it was laid on the table, I immediately took a bite. I do not know if I was just very hungry but it tasted nothing like anything I have ever tasted before. It was so good! My husband’s friend Kuya Rey (the chef) ordered a lot for us! Even if my husband and I were hungry, we are not really big eaters so we were taken aback by the amount of food served on us.

Remember when I said the food was so good and my husband not being big eaters? Well, scrap that. The food was not just good, it was heavenly to the point that my husband and I finished EVERYTHING! I mean, we had Volcano Roll (sushi), Spicy Mango Roll (sushi), Rib Eye, Wagyu Beef and rice. All of these were served in huge portion but we were able to consume it all plus the desert!

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It was the best way to start the calm after the storm and I wouldn’t really wish it any other way. We loved the food so much that before our flight, we decided to eat again in Murakami and it was yet again another gastronomic experience!

After we left the restaurant, my husband and I walked around the city to take touristy shots.Our first stop was, of course, the Big Ben. I was beyond amazed when I saw the Parliament and the Big Ben! I can still remember it explode from the James Bond movie so I was beyond thrilled that finally, I AM IN LONDON! (And we found my bag with everything still in it!)

Right across the bridge was the London Eye. Yes, you read it right. I saw the freaking London Eye! I literally have to pick up my jaw and screw it back. It felt so surreal for me. It was just beyond amazing! My husband loves taking pictures of buildings at night so we have decided to go somewhere else since it is still early. He asked me where I would like to go.

“I am just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her back…” That was all I can ever think of during that time. And so off we go to Notting Hill. 

When we got to Notting Hill, we immediately started looking for the blue door and the bookshop. We were so happy when we found it and took loads of pictures. Apart from the blue door and Travel/Book shop, Notting Hill is a pretty amazing street so if ever you are in London, I suggest you put it on your list.

After going all cheesy in Notting Hill, we have decided it is time to go somewhere magical. And what could be more magical than Platform 9 3/4? I am a Potter-head so seeing that platform in real life made my heart leap for joy. You can take pictures on the platform but there are also photographers there from the Harry Potter store (conveniently located next to it) that can take your picture and print it for £15. My husband is not a fan of printed pictures so we decided to take pictures of our own and it turned out pretty amazing.

After the magical encounter, we went back to the parliament so my husband can take pictures and then went home around midnight. The train closes at 01:00 so we still had plenty of time. But since we were so tired, we have decided to end the Day 1 of our London Adventure.

 

 

PS.

Day 2 will be even more exciting so don’t forget to follow so you will not miss anything. 🙂 Also I will write about our Where to Eat in London so we can talk more about the food and of course more pictures! 🙂

 

Blogs, Uncategorized

Code of the Developer’s Wife

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My husband and I have been married for almost 2 years now. And just like any other couple, we have had our share of ups and downs. But as time goes by, we have learned to accept the differences and work on the things we are not compatible on.

One of the things I have learned in the course of our marriage is that work for him is a totally different spectrum. He pours his heart and mind in his work. On the first year of our marriage, it was hard for me to understand why I cannot bother him when he is in front of his computer. I mean, he is basically just facing stuff that look like this. <“style>()>>>{{[[[[>>>if:>!

In the eyes of ordinary people, (I mean those who has no idea about software development/coding) this is all look like… gibberish. That is how I saw it as well. He called it to code, I call it a headache. But over time, out of this headache, I found my own code. And these are the “codes” I follow to understand my husband.

  1. If in front of the computer, do not disturb. There was an incident where I found my husband just staring at his computer so I shouted trying to surprise him hoping he would laugh. But all I got was a frown and a hint of irritation because he lost his train of thought/code. So I have learned to never do it again.
  2. If headphones are on, do not disturb. When my husband has earphones or headphones on, that means he is in the “zone.” And when a developer is in the “zone“, the last thing that you can do is disturb them. Unless of course, you want to experience World War II in your very own house.
  3. If you are telling your husband something and his face looks blank, do not be angry at him. He is not trying to ignore you. He is actually trying to understand what you are saying. This usually happens when he has been so engrossed with all the codes that he is trying to do and decipher. His mind has been working on complex algorithms and even more complex coding languages  that he is back to square one in understanding the “common language.” Give him a few hours and he’ll be back to earth, don’t worry! Just try to keep your patience for a few hours while he is on a Martian mode.lol
  4. If he tells you it is “code red, can’t go home early”, do not be angry at him. He is not having an affair with a woman who is in “code red”. He is merely saying, “My love I can’t go home because there is a problem in the office I have to solve immediately.” Remember, their mind works like codes. So they say everything Uncle Bob style. Concise and clean.
  5. If he tells you he has `Go live,` do not stay on Facebook the whole day and wait for him to go “live”. You will be very disappointed because you will hardly even see him online. What he is trying to tell you is that the product that they developed is done so they are pushing it to production and it can be used by their clients already! Trust me, that is too long for them so say so they’ll revert back to Uncle Bob’s principle. 
  6. If he tells you, no defect! Don’t just stand there and say OK. Hug him, kiss him! Celebrate with him! This means that his code is clean and he did it really well. It’s almost the same with getting a perfect score in an exam! So go and give him the sweetest and biggest hug you can manage!

I am not saying however that my husband is not sweet or doesn’t talk to me at all. What I am trying to point out here is that there is a huge difference between us brought about by our chosen profession. BUT this difference is not enough to make us love each other less. In fact, I  am saying that because of this huge difference, I was able to love him more.

I was able to appreciate the fact that he is very careful with his words. He doesn’t just say things without thinking about twice, in that way we avoid hurting each other verbally. He is so serious when he is working but this doesn’t mean I can’t give him a quick kiss on the cheeks nor give him a quick hug. Based on my experience, when my husband is so stressed, a quick hug changes his mood and perspective thus making him more productive.

I know it will take some “getting-used-to” in order for you to understand the things that he is saying but you’ll get there. You will both reach that stage that even just a look in the eyes, you will know what each other is thinking. You will get to the point that even a simple nod would mean a whole lot of other things.

You can’t code a perfect married life, it simply doesn’t work that way. There will always be defects along the way. Bugs that needed to be removed. Work around that needs to be done. But that is what make it amazing! It is unpredictable but very stable because …….

<h1><span style=”background-color: #ff0000; color: #ffffff;”><strong>Love is greater than anything&nbsp;<img src=”https://html-online.com/editor/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-embarassed.gif&#8221; alt=”embarassed” /></strong></span></h1>

Copy and paste the code here.

 

Blogs, opinion

MFS:’Tards Saying Davao Deserved the Bombing.

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It was Friday, September 2 (Copenhagen,Denmark) when I read the news about the bombing in Davao City. Worried was an understatement for how I truly felt that time. I have a lot of friends from Davao, in fact, I have lived in Davao for some time so it came as a shock to me when I heard the news.

Being born and raised in the Southern part of the Philippines, I have seen first hand the result of this extremists actions. I have even volunteered to go to war-torn areas and join groups giving psychological interventions to kids that are affected and traumatized by haunting events like this. So the news wasn’t new to me, but it is still didn’t make it easier.

I grew up in General Santos City and we have had our share of this senseless killing as well. It is so heart-wrenching for me to even just remember how scared I was during those unsafe times. I was always scared, very vigilant and suspicious of everyone. There was even a time I didn’t want to go out because I really felt scared.

It is for this reason that I give my big fat MIDDLE FINGER SALUTE to all the retarded Filipinos who said, that Davao deserved what it got. That it is a Karma for the Davaoeños because they are so proud. That it is not true after all that Davao is a safe city.

I admit, Davaoeños as boastful. They boast and brag all the time that they have 911. That they can roam around their streets at night bust still feel secured. BUT they have all the right to be! Their LGU is really good, if not the best in the Philippines. Let’s not be hypocrite, let’s all admit that we envy them. We all envy them because they have city officials who truly care for them. They have city officials who makes SERVING the PEOPLE a priority! However, even if they boast about it, it is still not a reason enough for you to rejoice in their misfortune. As a matter of fact, no reason is big enough for anyone to hope for misfortunes to happen to others.

You say it is “karma” for the Davaoeños, why? Do bad luck happen to those who follow the law? Do bad karma go after the happy and contented people living in an amazing city? NO! They just happened to be victims. Victim of war, terror and senseless killing! Instead of saying nonsense things like “karma” and all, why not pray for them and for their family?

DAVAO CITY IS SAFE and it will always be safe because they have LGU that protects them. They have LGU that ensures their security. Yes, a bomb exploded but that is because it was targeted. It’s not like everyday a bomb explode in Davao. This is a very specific incident planned by the extremists to hurt the head of the country. It is not about Davao’s safety. It is about Davao being hand-picked by infamous terrorists.

We all have our share on what happened to Davao. We urged Duterte to run for president despite the obvious that he really didn’t want to. They mercilessly attacked his city while he was so busy looking after everyone else! We took out the King Eagle out of his nest to help us, and now, is this how we pay back everything that he has done? By beaing a traitor to our own kind and turning our back the moment they need us most?

It was so amazing to see how we changed our profile pictures during the bomb explosion in Paris. It was so amazing to see the #’s we used for the bombing in Belgium…BUT why can’t we do the same for our country? Why can’t we show our fellowmen the warmth and care that we showed to the people France, Belgium, USA and etc. Why?

Instead of cultivating more hate and animosity, why not offer a prayer to the victims and their family? Why spread the hate? Why spread the animosity? Why rejoice on people’s misfortune?

I hope and pray that you will not suffer the same fate that the victim had suffered. I hope and pray that you will never ever experience and feel the same hopeless and scared feeling we felt. I hope and pray that you will be safe despite your crooked thinking…However, that will not stop me from giving you a MIDDLE FINGER SALUTE!

NOTE:

If you do not like what’s written here, feel free to unfollow. 🙂

 

Blogs, Travel, Uncategorized

Superman’s Patience Amazed Me.

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August 26,2016. That was the day that one of my biggest and grandest dream growing up came true. I can and will never forget that day, because, on that very day, I was able to say “I went to London to visit the queen.”

Of course, in reality, I did not go to London to visit the queen. I was there for a vacation with the love of my life. Upon arrival at Luton Airport, I was already filled with awe and excitement. I felt like my knees are going Jell-O and butterflies are in my tummy. When my passport was stamped and was told by the immigration officer, “Welcome to London”, I smiled from ear to ear and I couldn’t hide my excitement at all.

My husband and I took the train from Luton Railway Park to London. We were supposed to go down Farringdon Station and then take the circle line to Aldgate East because that was the address of the AirBnB apartment we rented. When we boarded out of Farringdon Station, I was really ecstatic. I couldn’t believe how lucky and blessed I am because I was given the opportunity to visit LONDON!

And then it hit me, I left my handbag on the train. I shouted, “Dad, I left my bag on the train!” And as if those were the magic words, the doors of the train closed and I saw right in front of me the train was speeding away. My heart that was once filled with happiness was suddenly filled with horror. I mean, who wouldn’t be? Our passports were there, along with my wallet with all my credit cards, our vacation budget, and my husband’s beloved phone!

I immediately tried to look for any track officer but nobody was around so I asked the people who were there if they know where is the station office, they said it is upstairs so my husband and I ran and went up. The information said I should go down again and go to the office in platform 4. It felt like I was running against time!

The officers in the office immediately tried to help me. They asked for the pertinent details regarding the train we took. Thank God because He gave my husband and I a clear mind that time despite the pressure so we were able to remember details like we were seated in the 2nd coach, in front of the handicap toilet, the train was headed for Brighton we left Luton Railway Park at 9:37.

The officer communicated with the next station, so we waited for their reply. When they called back, they said that the train just passed them. So he called the next station, Blackfriars and they said they will check it. A few minutes have passed and then Blackfriars said they do not have it. I felt like my world crashed. I can see the disappointment on my husband’s face.

The officer said he relayed the message to the central office so they will send an email to all the stations. Then Blackfriars called again and they said they found a bag that is colored purple. I would have been really happy except for the fact that my bag wasn’t purple. It was beige so I was dismayed yet again.

Then an idea popped in my mind. I asked my husband if he could track his phone. I know it is possible in iPhone through Find my iPhone app but I wasn’t sure if it can be done in android phones since my husband is using Samsung. But ‘Lo and behold, my husband was able to track his phone! It was somewhere in Blackfriars!I don’t know what he did, but he was able to do so! Thank God for giving me a husband who knows nothing about giving up!

We showed it to the officer and he was surprised but he said that if that is the exact location, my phone might not be on the train anymore so someone must have taken it. With all the might he can muster my husband said he will go there anyway and check it himself. Since all our cash is in my bag, we can’t buy a ticket so the officer issued a pass that my husband can use so he can go to Blackfriars and back again to Farringdon.

I asked my husband if I should come with him, but there was a flicker of concern in his eyes. Like a bear worried and really protective of his cub. He said no. He told me to stay with the inspectors instead. And I know, deep down my husband wasn’t sure if it will be safe for us so he chose to go alone instead.

After my husband left, I fervently prayed. I prayed the rosary and called unto God to protect my husband and bring back my bag along with everything inside it. Minutes became hours. And with every second, my anxiety just grow more.

Then came the moment of truth. The train arrived in Brighton. I was crying so hard since the time my husband left, and the inspectors are starting to worry about me. I heard the phone rang, and then in between sobs, I overheard the inspector say, “There’s nothing more that we can do”… So I know, it was clear, they were not able to find my bag.

I can hear them pointing fingers on who should tell me. Maybe because I was really crying so hard that it scared them or they just feel sorry for me. But whatever their reason may be, I couldn’t be happier with their timing. Because just when they were about to approach me, my husband came. And on his arm was my bag.

I hugged my husband so tight. I was so happy that he is alright and that he found my bag. He smiled at me and told me to say thank you to the enforcers. After we left the office, I told my husband again how sorry I was for causing all the trouble. And he just said, “It’s okay. We got your bag back so it’s fine now.” I felt his sincerity and I know I am loved.

During the whole crazy and panic moments, my husband kept his calm and was nothing short of amazing. He just asked politely “What was I thinking, how come I forgot about my bag.” He even told me to stop crying because he was worried I might have an asthma attack.

I can never be more thankful that I have such an amazing husband. He is really very understanding and very caring. He is not as verbose as other guys but he is so much more gentle and loving. He is very protective of me and always gives me the best. My husband is my Superman. And my Superman’s patience truly did amaze me.

Blogs, Uncategorized

It’s the Thought that Counts

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“Sharing is caring”, may seem like one the world’s most cliché adage.  (Time is gold tops it.) We hear it almost every day of our life. We know that we ought to help one another. We ought to share our blessing. We know that we ought to help without expecting anything in return.

But why is it so hard to do?

Last Sunday, July 10, 2016, my husband and I attended the mass. The sermon that father gave was about Sharing. He spoke about sharing your time, talent and treasure. This concept is not new to me. I have always loved helping people. When I was younger, I would go up the mountains, to far-flung places even, just to help our less fortunate brothers and sisters through teaching them or to simply just giving them small gifts. The children in the area cannot go to school because the nearest one is about 3 hours walk from their area and mind you, the way there is not easy. You have to cross mountains, walk through slippery slopes and even walk through a bridge made of two bamboo trees/stems tied together.

Every time I go to those areas, I feel like I was always hanging for dear life. Apart from those far-flung areas, I have been to areas where armed rebels have devastated so the chances of them coming back is not remote and, ‘lo and behold,it did happen once or twice. I know it is dangerous, I know it is tiring but there is always something that pulls me back every time I feel like I can not do it anymore.

At first, I thought it was my love for the children that motivates me. Seeing them smile made me really happy but while listening to the sermon last Sunday, I realized it was not just their smile that motivated me. It was the joy of giving that was filling me. The happiness that I felt seeing the kids smile and knowing that I have been an instrument of the happiness that they feel overwhelmed me. It feels so good to know that even though I was just doing a small thing, it made them glad and it mattered to them.

However, when we (my husband and I) moved here in Denmark, I felt like it is hard to share our treasure with other people. Honestly, my husband and I are not rich. We live a comfortable life but we are not rich. Apart from that, Denmark is a very expensive country! As much as we want to give to the less fortunate, financial constraints limit the help we can give. We are not complaining, though. We know that we are really lucky and we are so blessed to be living the life that we have. And since we feel really blessed, we want to pass it forward. We want to help others who are in need and share our blessings.

So my husband and I thought of ways to help others without the thought of financial constraints limit us. We accepted the fact that we cannot share TREASURE as much as we want so we focused on sharing our TIME and TALENT.

How did we do it? 

Simple. When we have friends who ask us for help in moving heavy things in their unit, we go and help. We offer our time to look after their kids if they are busy. We spend time with them and just do nothing but listen if they are going through tough times. When they are celebrating a milestone in their life, my husband volunteers as photographer/videographer and me as host/emcee. No buts, no excuses. Expecting nothing in return.

I know what these are just little things but it does not matter. What matters to my husband and I is that we are doing it from the heart. We just want to help, and if these are just what we can do, then be it. At the end of the day, it is always the thought that counts.

 

Photo credit: cogdogblog via Foter.com / CC BY

Blogs, Travel

UK Visa Application Guide

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I have read in many group pages a lot of query about visas going to London. For European citizens, this might be a puzzling question because they do not need any visa at all, but for us Asians especially Filipinos, this is not new.As I have mentioned in my previous Blog, 5 Important Tips in Traveling, visa inquiries/passport regulations are always and should be on top of our deciding factors whether we will go to a country or not.

These past few months, my husband and I have been scouring for cheap tickets and the cheapest that we always find is a RyanAir flight bound to London. So we decided to book the flight and then go to London. Now here comes the bloody part, visa application.

We are fortunate enough to have never experienced rejections in any country that we want to visit and so we prayed that the UK will not be the first. I have been dreaming about going to London ever since I was young. So going there will surely feel like re-living my childhood dreams and memories!

The first thing we did is to comply the documents for the visa requirements.

Here is the list of documents that you need.

  • Current passport or other valid travel identification
  • Evidence that you can support yourself during the trip. E.g. bank statements or payslip for the last 6 months

Seems easy right? But they can ask for more documents if they want to. So here is the list of documents that you MIGHT need but be sure to give these just when SPECIFICALLY asked to.

  •  bank statements or letters issued more than 1 year before the date of application
  •  driving licence
  •  photographs (other than passport photographs required in section 1)
  •  notarial certificates
  •  business cards
  •  hotel bookings
  •  flight bookings
  •  photocopies of bank cards
  •  credit card statements
  •  certificates relating to leisure activities
  •  evidence of car ownership
  •  travel insurance
  •  sponsor’s utility bills
  •  sponsor’s council tax bill

After you have prepared all the documents that you need, you have to register and apply  in GOV.The UK and pay the application fee. Just to give you and idea, my husband and I paid 190 Euros each for 6 months’ multiple entry visas. Expensive, I know.  But I’m sure it will be worth it! (I need to tell this to myself every day just so I can move on from the fact that it is really expensive!)

After registering in GOV.uk you have to register again in their outsource company under Teleperformance. It is called TLSContact. It is important that you sign up on this website so that you can track your application. Also, it is in their service center where you will pass the requirements. Their address is,

UK Visa Application Centre
Regus Copenhagen
Orestad Fairway House
Arne Jacobsens Alle 7
Center Boulevard
S 2300 Copenhagen
Denmark

Before you go to your appointment, make sure that you have everything that you need. Here is a checklist that they provided in TLSContact.

  • printed copies of your appointment confirmation,
  • printed receipt(s) of payment of Added Value Services if applicable,
  • original documents,
  • online application form,
  • passport,
  • residence permit if applicable,
  • other documents you want to be considered.

So as you can see in the list, you need to bring the copy of your payment receipt. You will receive this copy via email after you paid the application fee, so make sure to print it out.

Okay, now, let me tell you what I submitted for the application. I submitted a lot of documents! Since it was mentioned that I can bring any documents that I want to be considered, I took the liberty of taking all the documents that I have!

Here is the list of documents I submitted excluding the above-mentioned requirements.

  • Photocopy of my passports. (Old and New)
  • Marriage certificate
  • Birth certificate
  • Hotel booking
  • Airline booking
  • EU residence permit (Pink Card) and Social Security Card (Yellow Card)
  • Personal bank statement
  • Shared bank account statement of my husband and I
  • My husband’s bank statement
  • My husbands’ certificate of employment

You might be wondering why I included my husbands’ Certificate of Employment. The reason is actually very simple. I wrote in my application that I am TOTALLY dependent on my husband so I included his bank statement to prove that he has the capacity to pay for our trip and also his Certificate of Employment for them to know that we will not stay in the UK more than what we are supposed to because he has a job that he has to go back to. Let’s call it perks of being married. So what’s his is mine and what’s mine is…uhmm…I actually have nothing. Joke!

Now,for my tips during the interview.

Visa applications are always tough but it is doable! Just always remember though that when you are applying for a visa,you have to look presentable and likable. Smile and greet everyone you meet there. And the most important thing, be honest on what you write in your application. They always have a way of finding out the truth.  The processing time is just about two weeks Good luck and enjoy the UK!

P.S.

For security reasons, I will not post a copy of our visa. Rather we will post a picture of our trip to London after our vacation. 🙂 Happy traveling!

 

 

Blogs, Travel

Copenhagen Sakura Festival

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In my previous post, “Cherry Blossoms in the Cemetery” I mentioned that I love Cherry Blossoms, right? I was not kidding. I really love cherry blossoms and I will never ever grow tired of seeing them.

Last time, my ever supportive and sweet husband went with me to Bispebjerg Kirkegård. So this time we decided to check out Langelinie. It is a park/ pier here in Copenhagen made famous by “The Little Mermaid Statue”. Our timing could not be any more perfect because that same day, they are having their annual Sakura Festival.

It is a festival that honors its roots from the beautiful country of Japan. In Japan, once a year, under a Sakura families and friends gathers and reconnect. And this is also the main idea behind the Sakura Festival in Copenhagen, bonding people under the Sakura tree and have a great time.

It was my first time to attend the festival because for some weird reason I keep on missing it the previous years. And I was in for a treat. It was beyond my expectations. People from Japanese descent wore their Kimonos and other traditional Japanese costume. Others were in their cosplay outfits. It was so fun and indeed very festive.

There were also a lot of stalls selling Japanese food and delicacies but I was s fixated with the cherry blossoms and people in their costumes that I forgot to take pictures of them. lol

Sakura Festival, I am so not over you! I’ll see you again next year! 🙂