d'day at the "chair" ...

going to the dentist every quarter of the year is a routine. my dentist never fail to send me those notice cards reminding me of "d-day" - and then we'd go through the dilemma of finding the right date and time that fit both our schedules ... and that's a feat. it's almost an impossible task to complete - but my dentist is very patient with me. she'd get me into that chair no matter what!

oh well, i'm sure i'd survive another day at the dentist's chair ...

my PRAO ...

i had a 12-year old assistant at work today. yes, i have such a luxurious job. well, he's what we call a PRAO-student. you see, in the swedish educational curriculum for primary school, they are given between 2 to 5 days a year to be away from school and instead report to "work" in their parent's workplace - or shall i say "observe" us at our workplace. this is one way for them to see and experience what is it like to be in such an environment, and then they get to tell more about it in their class when they go back to school. the PRAO are given very light and simple tasks as filing documents, tidying up the copy room, stacking new papers in the copy machine, filling up pen cases, etc.

my PRAO happen to be my boss' 12 year son - and he's such a sweet and polite boy, and very smart, too. i explained to him the tasks that i need help such as tidying up my product display, organising the products according to brands, labelling them (he loved the handy label machine he got to use during the task) and the usual clean up in the copy room. for a 12 year old, he was fascinated with the feminine products right infront of him ... at one point he asked shyly if he can take a picture of the sanitary napkin to show the class - i thought that was very funny. so, i helped him do that with his mobile camera. this kid is a quick learner, too - he did all his assigned tasks asking for very little help or assistance from me. after his "4-hour shift", i rewarded him with a big box of candies - boy was i very pleased with his work! and, he was very thankful for his little reward ... i'd gladly have him again as my PRAO at any given time at my workplace ... yes, anytime!

SIDESTORY - a true PRAO-story
this i've heard from a colleague in another department. he had his son for the day at work but hadn't really managed to get someone show him around our workplace. a week after that, he told us over coffee that he was a bit embarrassed to read his son's report to the class about his experience in our office (the class teacher has sent him a copy). it read that his dad doesn't do much in the office - "he talked mostly on the telephone, read the newspaper, sat infront of his computer most of the day, walked around the office, always going back and forth the coffee machine." he also added in his report that the best thing he liked the most during my visit is when he had lunch with his dad at the Burger King.

you might want to know, the kid's dad happen to be our company's Vice President for Operations in Research and Developement - and he thought his dad has a boring job!

one action-packed morning ...

today, my son's very excited about going to school. excited because they are to go on a field trip to slottsskogen, a big forest park with a little zoo and botanical gardens here in gothenburg. i had to get up early and prepare his lunch pack, rainclothes and extra clothes. getting him up from bed was not in the least difficult - he doesn't like coming late to school whenever they have such an activity. he's the one stressing me to hurry up! we had a hurried breakfast, went through the morning ritual (vanity check infront of the mirror, brushing our teeth, toilet visits, getting out of our pajamas, etc). juggling with these tasks, as well as making sure that i have turned off the stove properly, and that the doors are locked and blinds are drawn, was quite a feat in itself - plus the screaming and wailing 6 year old when he couldn't find his favourite trouser and shirt and socks to go along with it - whew! we got changed quickly into our bike gears, grabbed our bags and set off to the garage for yet another ritual of getting the scooter out, checking if i have enough gas to tide me over the day - believe me, i had one too many hitches forgetting to tank up and end up in the middle of the road with an empty tank ... good thing my hubby's always there to the rescue - just one call away! so, with helmets on and secured, off we went to school.

we arrived just in time as the other kids in his class were getting ready to assemble at the front door. alex was so anxious to get off the bike to join them. again, the ceremonious routine of getting off his gear, him running inside the cloakroom to leave his schoolbag and all. he's got too much energy all pumped up early in the morning that i have to really cope up with him. as soon as he joined his "flock", he soon forgot about mommy in the sidelines ... and typical me, i just can't let go - i walked up and kissed him goodbye and told him to have great fun at the park ... to that he replied, "i sure will" - he sounded so confident at the very thought of it. as i was leaving the school premises, my mobile phone rang - i got a call from a friend ... we talked excitedly as i get my scooter ready to drive to work ... it started to drizzle a bit and the skies turned grey ... rain lurked around the corner ... oh well, my day had just begun!

adieu to the merry month of may ...

wow ... how time flies! the month of june is lurking around the corner ... the merry month of may is soon to pass - things ahead now spells sun, holidays and travels. the months of june, july and august are "holy"-months in europe ... this is the time of year when there is plenty of sun and daylight - imagine, a good 24-hours a day of partytime among swedes ... you can never beat that! the great midnight sun is a rare experience time and again ... the scandinavians experience "depression" in september to january with only 4 hours of daylight (but thanks to the global warming the winter temperatures have become more bearable).

yeah ... the merry month of may now comes to a close. let us welcome the bright and fun-filled months of june and july - bring in the sunshine my way ... i've waited long enough!

mother's day ... our way!

i had a kick when i celebrated mother's day with my son yesterday ... he's such a darling! he woke me up with a peck on my forehead, whispered good morning and gave me a big hug saying those sweet little words: "happy mommy day!"

this is the very first time i've celebrated mother's day with my son fully conscious of what the day is all about. we kept each other's company for the day - had a long breakfast with milk and pancakes, played the with his electric car race track, read books, he helped prepare lunch and we baked a nice chocolate orange brownies. he was very keen on pleasing me that he kept asking how i feel ... "are you happy, mommy?", "do you need help in the kitchen, mommy?", "shall we watch the video together, mommy?". we also spent some time on the phone calling relatives and friends to greet them moms a "happy mother's day" - then he posed a very intelligent query. my son wanted to call his aunt in madrid to greet her a "happy mother's day", too - "mommy, it is ok to say happy mother's day to auntie even if she is not a mommy yet, right? for me, she is my second mommy" ... how sweet a thought! unfortunately, no one answered the phone - one way or the other, i made sure "auntie" got his message.

by the end of the day, my son concluded that it had been a long day celebrating mommy day ... he looked forward to celebrating his own Alex Day - "will it be soon?", he asked innocently. soon enough, i said ... soon enough indeed. i love days spent as this ...

my side of the case ...

ok ... i plead guilty! for not making the effort of cleaning up my wardrobe as i have planned. it's still messy as it is. waking up this morning i did realise i have quite a lot of things to do - fast and quick! but i can assure you that the boxes are ready to be filled up. i even have my list taped at the doors of my wardrobe of things i have to get rid of. my son even helped out and stacked up the toys he don't need at the moment for me to put away - and they're still sitting in one corner of his playroom. i wanted so much to get real started, it's just that ... hmmm, wait ... there i go again ... just about to give more excuses. sad, sad, sad.

i guess i have to get real organised now, right? well, then ... i'll be off and make that effort - this time, for real! i'll tell you more about it later - if i ever survice the task of the day!

wish me luck ...

i just realised ....

that by next week, the merry month of may ends ... then it's june! hurray! summer is here!

sommartider hej hej sommartider
ge mig ditt hjärta, ge mig din hand
allt du vet och allt du kan ...

... 'tis one is the swedish national song for summer - this is truly exciting!

it's friday! it's friday!

it is my turn to fetch my son from school today, and he made me promise not to show up in school until late in the afternoon since he wants to join his classmates in the gym. oh well, his loss not mine (duh!)

friday again ... how i looked forward to the last work day of the week. you see, for some reason, i get very expectant as soon as it gets to be a friday ... it means lazy two days ahead, doing nothing really special but lounge around the house, clean up, do the laundry, work in the garden, tidy the toilet and bath, work in the kitchen, etc, etc ... but all these actually takes the back seat when the weather is nice and inviting. then you have to consider other activities such as biking, playing football or frisbee outdoors, short trips to the harbour, lazy by the docks and enjoy the gentle breeze sweeping that breadth of fresh air onto your skin. yes, friday is worth the wait ... beam up the sun, let's enjoy another weekend of fun!

thursday ... already?

i didn't realise i was that busy ... i normally get a free hour or so to update my blog each day. come to think of it, days a'running and clock ticks away unmindful of what we do. on my part it's just too much work that's keeping me, and then attending to my family's needs - that's mom and wife to you.

we are currently mapping out our holiday plans this summer - coordinating our calendars and timings for each travels ... who's picking up alex from school, who staying home when one of us is away on trips, who's to accompany alex in football games, who's attending the PTA meeting - the works! juggling time is the name of the game in our household. someone did asked me how we manage, and honestly, i just don't know. i guess we're a good team that we know what to prioritise, great time management and organisation along the given schedules. most mothers will agree that this is not an easy task. every household is different ...

now, it's almost end of the week. we have made plans for the weekend again - another outdoor sortie ... i hope the weather will be accommodating. my hubby says that i've been very swedish in the manner in which i appreciate the glimpse of the sun. having been cocooned indoors for a good half of the month in cold freezing weather, the light of day and shining sun is always a good sight to see - like everyone else, you simply drop everything and take that very opportunity to enjoy that bit of leisure. don't you agree?

monday, monday ...

after having been on a 4-day-holiday binge, i don't feel like going back to work ...would you? i do wish it's already the summer holidays. i'm looking forward the 5-week holidays away from work, relaxing, enjoying the sun and sea - now that would be one glorious funfilled days!

monday ... it felt like an eternity until friday. ho-humm ... i might as well wait as everyone else. there's a good 3 days in-between and you'll never know what would happen ... there can be excitement until then.

one sun shiny day ...

what a great day to spend outdoors ... marstrand island in the west coast of gothenburg is always a treat either by boat or by car. it is so exhilirating to commune with mother nature in this manner - the combination of sea, forests, rocky mountains, the fortress atop the hill - and to top it all, that bit of fresh air ... what a glorious wonderful feeling.

marstrand island (sweden)

my two loves ...

we love coming to this part of gothenburg mainly because it is very relaxing that you really tend to slow down. it's a laid back little town off the west coast and it has plenty to offer. this island can only be reached (and enjoyed) by private boats and the ferries - the cars are to be left on the other side of the island, except for the very few owned by people living on the island. during summertime, the narrow stoned streets and alleys here gets very crowded. the "boat people" (those owning private sailboats and yachts) from all over europe know this part of the west coast and oftentimes stay for a day or two to enjoy the sun, the wind, the landscapes and the gracious people of the island. most of the houses on this island are private vacation homes and the old ancestral buildings were converted into hotels, cafes, restaurants and activity houses (indoor swimming pool and spa). the specialty shops offers quality goods from boat accessories, sail paraphernalias (signature brands of clothes gear, caps, shoes - Gant, Red and Green, Lacoste, Timberland, Sebago among others).

marstrand island is famous for its strong winds that some sail competitions are conducted around the island and participated by sailing enthusiasts all over the country and from other parts of europe. summertime here is always fun and exciting - there's a strong camaraderie among locals and visiting tourists alike ... what's even odd is that people need not know each other's name - they always remember the name of your boat! everyone is generous to throw you a smile and would eagerly share each other's experiences at sea. such bonding in another level ... odd, but they do exist.

yes, another one sun shiny day, please? with this kind of weather, who would want to stay indoors?

a prayer answered ... an adventure nonetheless ...

nothing melodramatic about that. it's just that the weather was on our side today and the promised swimming went as we have planned. at mid-morning today, the heavy grey skies opened up and the sun shone invitingly for us to get out of the house. alexander jumped enthusiastically about the prospect of finally going out. without further adieu he started ransacking his drawers for his swimming trunks, pulling towels, extra clothes, wet wipes and tossed them into his backpack. i started to prepare some lunch - rosemarine roasted potatoes and grilled chicken (marinated in bar-b-que sauce from last night) and packed them in my racksack along with water bottles, tissue paper, plastic knives and forks - it's going to be a picnic at the water adventure park! boy, how exciting! at least for alexander. after preparing our lunch bag, i just grabbed some extra shirts and jeans and towels and shower accessories to bring along. all these were done in under an hour! alex and i were a great team! by the way, popsy was called in to work - so it's mother and son bonding day - hurray!

arriving at the adventure park, alexander was so impatient he's raring to go. by the time we stepped out of the common shower, off he scooted towards the poolside - and before i knew it, alexander had already jumped into the water. and then i heard him scream, i saw him in the pool gasping, trying his best to keep his head above water. so, i just dropped my bags and jumped in - to the rescue so to speak. when i scooped him up to the side of the pool, he gave me one of his innocent and apologetic smile and said: "mommy, i didn't think. i didn't know the water was deep" - and then we just laughed! kids! anyway, we parked our stuff, bags and towels and all, on one of the benches and hopped into the water together. he did several short laps in the pool and really worked on his tiny arms and legs. i was impressed - he looked strong and his strokes were determined.

alexander was pretty satisfied when we got home ... he made me promise not to tell popsy of the little misadventure ... it would be our secret. when his dad tucked him in tonight, he told him of all his day adventures, the fun and excitement of the trip and the day's swimming exercises - except that little incident. he sounded so proud. after a while, the room fell quiet. when i tiptoed and peeped in, they were cuddled close to each other - they both fell asleep. my tired "little" boys ... tomorrow's surely a new adventure.

again, i'd pray:
rain, rain, go away. come again another day!

rain, rain, go away ...

what a way to start off a 4-day-holiday ... it's raining cats and dogs!

i have looked forward to an afternoon spent under the sun and enjoying a typical family day out back for a picnic, but the rain spoiled everything else we've planned. there will be no bar-b-que feast today! opting to stay indoors was difficult for a restless 6-year old but soon enough he got himself busy reading, playing with his train tracks and cars and what nots.

when the rain stopped and his dad asked him if he want to join him to buy some milk at the nearby store, he replied in a matter-of-fact way: "no, thanks. i'm not in the mood to go out anymore". boy, what a decisive lad!

before going to bed, he asked me if we can do something else tomorrow. knowing he'll never survive another day encaved in the four walls of the house, i promised him we're to go swimming (indoor) instead. and so he went to sleep with a grin on his face.

i can only hope and pray .... rain, rain, go away. come again another day!

swenglish anyone?

there are quite a number of anecdotes surrounding the swedes when it comes to speaking a foreign language ... especially english. the combination of which is called swenglish ...

the f-word
a swedish tourist in london, an elderly, well-to-do lady from the exclusive östermalm area of stockholm took her expensive jewellery down to the hotel reception and asked the receptionist: "can i have a fack for these, please?"
(translation: Swedish = fack means safety deposit box)

the leg
an english gentleman visited a swedish bank in stockholm for the first time and asked the male receptionist if he could open a safety deposit box. the receptionist engaged him a very friendly smile and was too eager to please then asked "could you please show me your leg?"
(translation: Swedish = leg means identification card)

abbreviation of titles
classic translations

Sven Nilsson, VD
(Swedish = verkställande direktor, English = Managing Director / President)

Stig Bengtsson, Sales Ass
Swedish = försäljningsassistent, English = Sales Assistant

swedes, you'll love them! i know i do ...

ian: have fun reading the books!

moving on ...

kirsten, a dear friend of mine recently confirmed her plans of moving to silicon valley in california, usa together with her husband. it was great news and i am so happy for her. she has applied for a teaching post at a local german school in silicon valley and was accepted there for a 3-year term. she can opt for a renewal, but she says they are not likely to stay more than three years. it's all for the experience, she says - and i'm sure they are in for a load of fun time aside from the rich experience they will reap during the planned 3-year term. i'm so excited for her.

you see, i've known kirsten from manila when she was teaching at the german school in pasig. we had a great time together whenever the opportunity presented itself - we spent our weekends together with some other common friends from the german school and my dormmates, friends and work colleagues. we hang out at parties, night outs (meals at the nipa hut or folk bars along timog avenue, the 70's bistro), small get-togethers, weekend outings in puerto galera - for a lazy swim, sun and scuba diving (she learned how to dive in puerto galera - i remember how nervous she was during the first time). i love the company of these bunch of friends! it's always a fun-filled day spent with them - pure and clean fun!

i remember one funny incident about my going out with another friend, helga - she, too, was a teacher at the german school in pasig (1990-1992). we went out for dinner on a sunday night along with a couple of other guys. we were regulars at a timog bar where another friend of ours, Noel Cabangon (he's now a famous singer/artist in manila) had a regular late night singing stint on sundays. we would always hang around until his performance set were done and stay up until the wee hours of the morning - jamming with his guitar, singing, talking, exchanging stories of the day and so on. when the bar closed at 2 am, we would then proceed restaurant and bar hopping ... it doesn't sound that bad. we were like night owls ... we ate a lot, had some drinks (them, not me - as many of you know, i don't drink alcohol), and there was plenty of coffee and hot chocolate to keep us wide awake. before we know it, it's already six o'clock in the morning! during this time, i was renting a room in alta vista (katipunan) with an old couple. i totally forgot about the gate being locked from the inside after 11 pm. so, i couldn't get in when i arrived at the gate. then, helga came up with the idea of driving her car close to the gate - i jumped atop the hood of her car, then over the gate and landed onto the driveway. knowing that i'm safe inside, helga and i said our goodbyes giggling with the iron gate between us. then, the main light by the porch was switched up - lo and behold, my landlord came out of the door looking very surprised to see me by the gate. he said, "you're up early today. could you please get the newspaper on your way out?" - i almost burst out laughing. poor guy didn't realise i haven't been home all night. well, what happened next is another story.

many of my good friends in manila came from the german school. you might ask why. well, it all started when i was in palawan where i stayed after my college studies at UST. my folks' home is also home to a lot of tourists. i see them lot almost everyday. i helped managed a resort while i was there and got to meet very interesting people. it was here that i met this group of german teachers vacationing from manila - we hit it off at once and somehow developed this closeness and "buddy-feeling" between us in all that 7-day-stay at the resort. to this day, i remember their last night at the resort when they asked me very interesting questions and shared insights about me that somehow played a vital role in changing my life completely:

"what are you doing here?"
"is this the kind of life you want to live for the rest of your life?
"you don't belong here."
"don't you want to explore better things in life outside this island?"
"don't settle for less, you probably could do much more than you think."
"what are your plans for your future?"

all these questions and vote of confidence somewhat stirred something in me. the following day before they left, we promised to keep in touch. the weeks that followed was spent soul searching on my part until i decided to take the challenge and went back to manila - i had to convince my parents that i can survive whatever is there in the "jungle" of manila. with my mom's political connections, i landed a secretarial job at the congress of the philippines.

immediately after arriving in manila, i got in touch with these wonderful people from the german school. we picked up where we left. i never felt alone ever since - they were like my big brothers and sisters. whenever one of them finishes up his or her contract at the school, i would immediately be introduced to the ones coming in to replace them - it was like a chain ... it was not to be broken. fortunately, each and every one of them were just as caring and loving as the one leaving. my ties to the german school was pretty strong - i'd get invited to their school activities, private parties and any other engagements that would allow an extra baggage (that's me!). i love them dearly for having me as part of their family - whether in school or in private. this is how i met kirsten - i was a "legacy" to her by the teachers before her. for me, she's one great gift i cherish to this day. and as for the others, we somehow keep track of one another - me, here in sweden and them all - scattered all over germany, one in greece, some in texas, a couple in argentina, another couple in vietnam and the rest in other exotic places.

life in itself has too many things to offer. we are always bound to take big and small decisions in our lives - today and in the future ... and when we do, there simply is no turning back. we have to move on and carry out our dreams and expectations. one may reap success, the others may experience failure ... but no matter what, you simply have to carry on ... you have to move on.

kirsten, good luck in silicon valley! i hope to see you sooner than you think ... i will always be thinking of you - keep smiling! i miss you so much! we'll gossip more later.

the drawing force of churros ...

(photos grabbed from anna of malaga)

the last time i visited madrid (spain), the first thing i looked for was churros. i just can't wait to get my hands on churros. in manila, i always make it a point to drop by any dulcinea coffeeshop just to get churros and hot thick chocolate to go along with it. they're yummy! i love eating them any time of the day. i recognise the fact that this is one fatty dish - but i don't really care! i like gobbling those crispy, crunchy brown curls dipped in that glorious hot thick chocolate. heaven!

churros is very easy to make. the dough is made up of flour, water and a lite salt. you will need a pastry bag to put the mixture in and then "fry" away and make those curls in any shape you want onto the frying pan (with lots of oil, if i may add). it has to be browned and crisp - that is when you know it's ready. towel it dry so that you can get rid of (at least) some fat.

to prepare the thick chocolate to dip churros, you can heat the dark chocolate bars and let it melt. then you're ready to eat! (tip: there are special chocolate fond or powder available in some sepcial shops - they're less messy!)

geez, i'm having cravings while writing this down. don't you?

messy mousey me ...

i didn't realise how my bathroom sink looked like until this morning. on the far right side of the sink stood a small tray of bathroom candles and beside it are my hubby's neatly arranged toiletries - toothbrush, deodorant, electric shaver, mouthwash and hand cream. looking on the left side of the sink stood a small vase of scented candles in a plate of potpourri - and then there's a clutter of hairbrush, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, perfumes , make-up kits (lipstick, eyeshadow, blush-on, mascara, etc), facial creams, lotion, oil, hairspray, box of cottonballs, etc, etc. yeah, i'm guilty - those are mine! goodness, what a messy corner! and it's no exaggeration, i can't believe i have so much crap!

why do women buy all these stuff? i, for one, have this habit of buying things i don't really need - a new lipstick (even though i still have a pair or two which are not even used up), perfumes (why do i have one too many when i can't use them all at the same time on me?) or i'd buy a new pair of shoes (some of which i only use once or twice) and clothes that is just parked in my closet waiting for an occasion to be worn. what a waste of things lying idle in there - it's just something to have.

i've tried too many times in the past to get rid of my "unnecessary" things - easier said than done. you have to admit, some things can be of sentimental value - a remembrance of something in the past that we simply cannot part or let go. one example for me is this gold and backless lycra mini dress that i have - it's my favourite party dress. it has this small and shining black sequines up front of the dress then spreads down to accentuate your curves - it is one gorgeous piece. i just can't part with it! everytime i'd put it in my "to-give-away" box, the next thing you'd know is that i've slipped it back in the closet and pushed it in way down the drawers - until it's time to clean up again. scarves, this is another thing. i have stacked an awful lot of them over the years. time and again, i always find an excuse not to give it away. i can't explain why, so don't ask. i have an old pair of jeans (a big favourite) that i just can't part away, even though i don't fit in them anymore. my excuse? well, maybe it would fit me again next year. i'm dreadfully awful, right? what difficult choices i have to make! *pout*

well ok ... this coming weekend i will make an attempt to clean up my drawers full of stuff i no longer have use for (again!). it's time to ransack my closet once and for all, like pack away my winter clothes and accessories until next wintertime. i may need to go through my pile of shoes and do away with those that i don't need (that would be a feat!). this is going to be one difficult task, believe me.

where's your right?

no, i am not talking about what's right or wrong. i meant where's your left and where's your right. as a child, we learn early on as to what is left and what is right, or where is your left and where is your right - other than being taught what is right and what is wrong. gee, i hope you are not confused now.

ok, i'll get to the point. i drive my scooter everyday to work since this is the fastest way i know to travel around town - and i get to avoid the tedious rush hour of the morning and afternoon traffic - you know, the classic stretch of cars everywhere crowding the streets at an appointed time in the morning and the afternoon. also, sometimes i'd bring alexander to school on my bike - he loves our morning rides and he always look forward to each ride wearing his special helmet with the tiger motif. he's so proud coming and leaving the school on my bike - his classmates are always in awe and envy as i rev up the bike's engine - what is it with boys and engines?

anyway, in sweden, a lot of people bike especially at the start of spring towards autumn. you can actually bike from sweden to stockholm, or from gothenburg to malmö (and you can proceed to copenhagen, denmark if you want to) as there are special bike lanes for bicycle and scooter-riders all over the country. and there is one very important rule that applies to all pedestrians, or drivers of cars, scooters or bicycles: ALWAYS KEEP TO THE RIGHT! so, where's your right?


Swedish pedestrian signs ...

it is so annoying that out in the streets, people just don't know where their right side is. it's not in the middle of the street, not to the left but to your RIGHT! i'll say it again - your RIGHT! some people just don't seem to care. car drivers somehow know where their right side is (sometimes not!) or they'd get into trouble out in the open streets - so, i might as well direct my dilemma to the pedestrians and bikers in general who are using the bike lanes.

- there are those using the bike lanes in bicycles with their left hand using their mobile phones as they bike - phone pressed in their left ear while the right hand steers the bike in a very slow pace zigzagging right in front of you

- next are the pedestrians sharing the bike lanes with the bicycle and scooter riders - they dash out right infront of you without looking to either their left or right. and there are those who would walk right in the middle of the bike lane and, again, talking on their mobile phones unmindful of the traffic behind them

- then there are some scooter riders who drive their bikes in the bike lanes as if they are racing at the daytona racing track uncaring if they scare the wits of the elderly folks or children alike with their driving skills - the nerve!

i wouldn't have cared one bit if they just STAY ON THEIR RIGHT!

one odd thing about the norms in driving around in sweden is the nature of swedes being cool and calm in the traffic. waiting by the traffic light, if the red light turned into green and the car infront of them don't drive as they should have, the car behind it would patiently until it moves - and that could be a while, especially if the driver (again!) is busy talking on his mobile phone! to use your car horn is unimaginable in sweden - it's considered rude! what do you use your horn for, i asked my hubby one time - it's only for emergencies like accidents, he said. it's an unbelievably lame purpose if you ask me. in other parts of the world, car drivers and alike use their vehicular horn like mad dogs! imagine the manila traffic, in new york, in most city streets of italy, same as in the city streets of spain, portugal and france, or anywhere else in asia - everyone's using their horns! when i pointed this out to my hubby, he just smiled and say, "well, they are stressed and crazy people". does that make sense to you? but ok, in a way, traffic here is not as chaotic as one would think. it's actually bearable.

a swedish colleague to me once said "when you get into the car, you just drive. if you get stuck in a traffic, it could be a nice opportunity to clear your thoughts, or think of things you forgot to do during the day, or think of things you need to do and list them mentally in your head. if you think about the traffic unnecessarily, then you stress yourself physically and mentally for no special reason at all. just sit back and relax. you will get where you want to be at the end of the ride."

it's quite right ... quite right.

still, i hope that people, regardless whether drivers or pedestrians, would remember to STAY ON THEIR RIGHT!

celebrating mother's day ...

twas mother's day in most parts of the world yesterday. thanks for you guys who sent me e-mails and sms messages - i'm touched! incidently, it's not yet mother's day here in sweden (it will be on 27 may). kinda weird, huh? anyway, i celebrate mother's day everyday with my husband and son in my own little way.

i practically grew up with my maternal grandparents and i have lots of surrogate mommies (thanks to my friends) - they are my extended families. the true essence of mother's (or father's) day is to thank your mother for all that she is and the sacrifices she made just for you. and you have to mean it when you say "happy mother's day" since it is some form of acknowledgement on your part.

with my own family, every day for me is always a blessing - especially when i get to hear my alexander whisper "i love you, mommy" in my ear before he goes to bed ... it felt like heaven! it's simply a wonderful feeling when i get a cuddle or two from both my husband and son before going to bed. what a blessed life i live!

i know in my heart that i deserve a "happy mother's day"-greeting.
do you?

keukenhof park, an amsterdam delight ...

one thing i love about amsterdam is its cosmopolitan ways. almost everything that best describes europe is here. people of all cultures and walks of life is somehow intertwined and locked in each other's company.


the netherlands: a visit to keukenhof park

other than the wonderful sights to see around the city of amsterdam, either going around by car, bus, tram or boats, the assortment of incredible and lovely flowers everywhere you go is something very unique in the netherlands. i especially love the tulips the country is so famous for. the keukenhof park showcases not only tulips in different sizes and colours but also daffodils and hyacinths at this time of year. at the later part of year, between august to september (sometimes by end of october), the gladiolas, lilies and dahlias are in full bloom. there are a number of great flower species beautifully landscaped in the park's seven inspirational gardens. here, one can get useful tips on how to tend your own garden as well as inspire one as to the flower trend for the spring and summer seasons. keukenhof park is not only designed for garden and nature lovers. the landscape artists and gardeners of the park have children in mind when they designed and tend the park - there are children's playground and activities around that park that would keep even the toddlers at their feet and at the same time interest them in flowers and gardening. all these is such a treat ... my alexander loved it, and so did i. it was a truly a lovely experience.

my cactus flower bloomed today!

today

the cactus bud finally revealed its beautiful petals ... i'm very ecstatic about this. my indoor plants (cactuses and orchids) are really having a grand time in our new house since i have placed them by the window with moderate sunlight in the dining room. boy, how they loved it! before moving to this house, all these plants were halfway to the bins - meaning almost dead ... kaput! in return they continue to bear flowers - almost nonstop!

yesterday

lovely, isn't it?

misconceptions ...

it happened again! today, i lunched with visiting colleagues from south americas (meaning from mexico, columbia, costa rica and venezuela) – and this is the first time we met despite the exchange of many work e-mails between ourselves. believe it or not, each of them swears they have met me before. my features, without any doubt, seems to be very common in their respective countries – but i swear i’ve never been any where near these exotic places. everytime i say that i originally come from the philippines, people would roll their eyes and say that i don’t look asian at all – they say i look more Spanish (or portugese) … i guess i’ll credit all these observations to my “morena” complexion as “enhanced” by the nice european weather. still, misconceptions goes a long, long way. in the end, i still pride myself being a filipina.

my sweden ... through the eyes of colin moon!

Excerpts from Colin Moon's new book, "In the Secret Garden of SwEden" ...

"Before I ever set foot in Sweden I knew for sure that Swedes were socialists, that they drank themselves to death and that they had sex anywhere at any time. Now that I’ve been here for a few years I know that only one of these is true. In Sweden in the early 80s all the good things in life were either immoral, illegal or heavily taxed. I came to a land where supermarkets covered over weak beer with a blanket at 8pm, where the highlight of Saturday evening’s TV entertainment was Anslagstavlan and where it was illegal to shower after 10pm at night. In the early 90s Sweden was still a land where it cost as much to fly from Stockholm to Göteborg as it did over the Atlantic, a land where Swedes spoke quietly on the telephone and where people wore gloves as early as October. It is now the 2000s. Swedes are still convinced they are nothing special, rather dull and simply quite ordinary. Do not let them fool you. They are just as weird and wonderful as they have always been. They just need a little help to show it. Welcome to the garden, the beautiful, blossoming garden of SwEden."

signs along the way

the perk of travelling to places unknown ... go figure!
(click on the picture to read the signs in actual collage)

spring, spring, spring!

yes, spring has finally arrived in gothenburg!

funny how one really longed for it to come. the changing of seasons never cease to amaze me - it's so beautiful! gone are the sight of bare and naked trees - there's plenty of greens all over the place. the mountain tops doesn't look ghostly anymore - the green leaves of the trees brought some soul and spirit atop the hill and everywhere. even my tulips are in full bloom in the garden! my cactus plant seemed happy as the sun shines - it is in its finest showing off its sticky red orange flower bud. the birds are chirping gayly early in the morning, apparently glad to be able to feed in the clear and sunshiny day. even the early morning breeze has its nice distinct smell. hmmmm! i love life! each day is truly a blessing!

this thing about age

i remember during my first year in sweden, my language classmates invited me to join them for a night out - have dinner and drink and dance in one of the city's posh restaurant club. i accepted the invitation eagerly and looked forward to the event. in sweden, you are not allowed to these clubs unless you are 18 years old. there is also this queue-system outside the club, complete with muscled bouncers and all at the door. like obedient pups, we stood in line and waited for our turn to get inside. when it was my turn at the door, the big muscled guy stopped me and asked me how old i was. i was quite surprised to be asked in that way, so it took me a while to answer - i thought the guy was joking! so i said i'm 28 years old. he took another look at me, unbelieving if i may add. he asked me for my identification card! at this point, the whole process seemed like an eternity. after looking at my card, he told me to step aside and asked me to go home. my head screamed discrimination! i asked the guy calmly why i was not allowed to go inside the club, to which he replied: "i believe your ID is a fake because you look 16 years old to me and not 28 as you claim". my jaw dropped. i couldn't believe i heard that - and i didn't know whether to laugh or cry! i find it ridiculous and insulting. my classmates tried to convince him but it was no use. they didn't want to go inside the club without me, so we went to McDonalds instead. i went home early and told my hubby about the incident - boy, how he laughed! he told me to take it as a compliment. he went on to tell me that it happened to him, too. he was stopped at a liquor store from buying a beer and was thought to be underage when in fact he was already 25 - he said it was a humiliating experience, but he survived.

i'm now 41, and modesty aside, most people here would guess that i'm between 28 to 31 years old. i just smile and say thank you. nowadays, i don't really think much of this thing about age.

why the fuzz at 40-something?

getting in touch with old acquaintances after a long period of time generates a lot of curiosity in one. i find it most interesting after the usual banter of "hello" and "how are you", the conversation would somehow touch upon the most casual and sometimes sensitive subject: age!

i've heard friends and acquaintances dreading the day they'd turn 40 or something more. i've listened to how they felt so resigned to the idea that they are 40 (or plus) and that they are now too old and already looking forward to retirement! this is something i do not understand (or will ever understand) - why the fuzz? why the fear of reaching such an age?

i have stopped thinking about my age after my 30th birthday. i stopped counting, so to speak. and to this day, i've never really thought of what is it like being 40! i may be 40 + now, but i don't feel like i'm one. proof is that i don't even look my age - this i have been told a number of times ... maybe because i have embraced the saying that says "life begins at 40!" - that one should not think too much of one's age since it's not a healthy thought. i'm living life and enjoying it very much. i've thrown all my cares away. i feel secure with my love ones and it must be evident. life's been good to me. being in my 40's doesn't bother me one bit. as they say - don't worry, be happy!

more on ruffa gutierrez

i just wrote here yesterday commenting that something's off about this ruffa gal from philippines showbiz ... and then this morning, WHAM! BANG! news mags wrote that she and her turkish husband will now end their 4 year marriage - what a farce! my gut feeling struck again! let's wait and see how this develops ... and then again, who cares!

springtime woes

what is it with spring cleaning? in sweden, this is the time of year when you actually get a glimpse of your next door neighbours busying themselves outdoor with all the work which need to be done before summer.

this year is no different. as the weather got warm and "friendly" we started off trimming the bushes, the trees and plucking out unwanted weeds around the garden. mowing the lawn is a must, if you don't want them grass grow as tall as your house. we have already stocked dried branches in big paper bags ready for use for next winter - our fireplace gets real active during wintertime warming up the house for that cozy feeling. we love sitting around the fireplace, tell stories and read our book with loads of hot choco and tea within our reach.

gee, summer is just around the corner. sunshine is sure on its way - or so as most Swedes would hope and pray. but for now, we have to prioritize the work to be done around the house. the springtime clean up has to be done ... then we can map out travel plans for the summer holiday later. one just doesn't know where to start. soon enough the motor and sailing boats alike will be slipped off from the docks - time to "sweet talk" with the summer winds! i can't wait to see the line of beautiful yachts at the harbours - they sure are a glorious sight at sea.

if the weather would play tricks on us this year, we'd probably join the exodus and expedition into the hot and warm countries as Spain, Portugal or anywhere in Asia - Thailand is the favourite destination of many Swedes. let's just wait and see ...

famous and infamous quotes from alexander

A special request from some friends and relatives ...

“You are my sunshine, Mommy!”
He says whenever he’s in his cozy moments with Mommy

“You are the best Mommy and Daddy in the whole world!”
He says when he receives small presents from us.

“When will I ever grow up?”

“Mommy, I am in love with a girl, but don’t tell Daddy.”

“Did you know that I know all your secrets?”

“I never knew I know lots of things.”

“You grown-ups are so difficult!”
He says this when he gets reminded of things he’s supposed to do and things he is not supposed to do.

“Why is it always my fault?”
When he is asked of something he has no knowledge of (ex. Who forgot to close the fridge? Who left crisp crumbs on the couch? Who forgot to turn off the bathroom lights?)

“When it is my turn to speak, you have to be quiet.”

“You are destroying my life!”
He says when he gets interrupted from his activities (watching TV, at play, especially when he’s reading)

“Why do I always have to listen to everything you say?”
When reminded of rules and regulations both at home and in school.

“Now Mommy, can I hit back?”
This he asked me when he came home from school one day with a rather deep scratch on his face. You see, kids his age can be rowdy at play – they tend to hurt each other, intentionally or unintentionally. We always tell Alex to steer clear and walk away when things get rough and rowdy at play. That if someone hit him, he shouldn't hit back. He simply has to walk away and tell this to the teacher. His teachers have confirmed this and that he does walk away from the group and mind his own business – but then, some kids do seek him out. He was almost teary-eyed when he asked me this question – I could see clearly that he tried his best to stay away and obey what we have told him to do in school. I had to compose myself and told Alex that we are to talk about it after dinner – I had to come up with something wise to say and I was not prepared at that time. After dinner, Jan and I sat with Alexander and talked about what had happened in school. In his own childlike ways, he described the incident with matching facial expressions and hand movements. Our advice to him: 1) When somebody is rowdy to him, stretch out your right arm and give him a slight push on the chest and tell him in a loud voice “Back-off!”. Then he can go and tell the teacher. 2) If someone hits you and starts a fight, you can hit back hard and then go and tell the teacher that someone is starting a fight with you. But never, ever start a fight. The next day, when I brought Alex to school, I told his teacher what we have advised Alex about how to handle those who are rowdy on him – and the teacher had no objections whatsoever. Rightly so, at the end of the day, I was told that Alexander punched down the same boy who gave him the deep scratch on his face. After that, the poor boy did not bother Alexander anymore.

Footnote:
Alex told us that he only punched the other kid when he pushed him down in a puddle – Alex defended himself by saying he got very, very angry. Well, that’s my boy! He surely learned to pick his own fight - for better or for worse.

ruffa gutierrez

there's something off about this particular filipino celebrity. i've been browsing some pinoy news and mags and there's always tons of articles about her. i find hilarity in her statements in some interviews - i find them very "trying hard to please". and then i learned a lot more about her and her pack of lies.
- that she's married to a Turkish millionaire (she forgot to add that her husband is son to a mob gangster in Turkey)
- that she's happily married (then why is she in Manila all the time and leaving her husband in Turkey with the 1st wife?)
- that they owned Fashion TV Turkey (her husband bought the station for her and that she's the CEO in the company ... very wrong! FTV Turkey management said she's only a spokesperson invited to grace the show only once)
- that she practice two religions: one as a Catholic/Christian when she's in Manila and the other as Muslim when she is in Turkey (this is tacky, very vain and blasphemous for both religions)
sadly, the filipino public glorify the likes of ruffa in la-la land of showbiz. i don't really find anything unique about her, but everything written about her i do find amusing and entertaining.

restaurant picks in London

Browns Restaurant - Covent Garden
Good food, not too pricey and great dining atmosphere.
SOS (Smiths of Smithfield) - Charterhouse Street
very English - interiors in dark colours, oak tables and chairs, leather seats, noisy bar but they have great food at very affordable prices. you may choose to be seated on the ground floor with a laid back atmosphere of the bar, the 1st floor (Wine Room) - a more subtle ambience, the 2nd floor (Private Dining) - for a more intimate feel of the place and there's the Dining Room and Rooftop Restaurants on two separate floors to choose from, depending on your mood.
The Paddock Grill
at the Walthamstow Greyhound Racing Stadium
if you want to combine great fun betting on greyhounds and a nice meal. it's a great treat!

conversations between two 7-year olds

i bear witness to this conversation ...
boy 1 : have you now decided how to earn extra money this summer?
boy 2 : oh yes, my dad's going to give me 20 crowns for a basketful of weeds i pluck from our garden. how about you?
boy 1 : my mom's garden is full of snails eating up on her flower beds so she told me that as it had been last year, she will give me 50 öre for each snail i can take away from the garden.
boy 2 : how many snails did you collect last year?
boy 1 : well about 1,000 snails
boy 2 : wow, that's quite a lot of snails. you must have earned a lot last year.
boy 1 : well, actually, i picked only about a hundred and then i showed them to my mom and collected my money. afterwards, i let the snails off back in the garden and then pick them up again after a while to show my mom so i get more pay. i did a couple of rounds doing this until i had enough money. neat plan, huh?
well, that's enterpreneurship at a very tender age ...

how to handle snooty people ...

give them a twisted, sharp and nochalant comment. this will stop them on their tracks and they will surely rack their brains out in trying to figure what the heck do you mean. at least you get them thinking - either they get the irony of what you mean (hurray!) or they would get even more snootier. in whichever case, just act as if you don't care and continue minding your own business.

I'm online!

Thought I'd start another blog page ... open for everyone to leave a message or comment for me. How do you like that?!!! I look forward to a great exchange of thoughts and ideas ... luv yah!