Balikbayan Box Sent!

Three weeks had passed since we sent the box to Mama and I wonder which part of the world it is now..(hehe). Five more weeks and Mama would be able to receive it. I hope there would be no problem shipping it to my our province.

 Everyone is so excited to see what they have in the box and I am excited as well for them to receive it. It's a joy for me to share to them what I have even in little things. My siblings likes chocolates to I focused in getting more of that! *wink*

 Here's a sneak peek of some of the items we bought for my family

Safe trip box and we hope LBC would be prompt in delivering you to our door. Hope everyone will like what's in the box! :)  Thank you hunny for all of these! :) xx

Our Back Garden

I am so pleased that the previous owners of our house were keen gardeners and had invested so much time with the garden. The landscaping and arrangement of our front garden is very good. And aside from that I am so happy I have a very good parents in-law who's at the same time loves gardening a lot.Father in-law has a good gardening backgrounds as his parents used to own a big nursery where they grew and sold vegetables and flowers. And in my mother in-laws case, she has a good touch and loves gardening..(smile) My sister in-law inherited the touch and interest but unfortunately my hunny didn't!But despite of that our garden is doing well.

We have apple trees in our backyard, tomatoes, lettuce, newly planted leeks and purple sprout (like broccoli), chillies, and 3 different colours of hydrangea.
I am so proud of what we've done to our back garden with the help of my parents in-law especially mum. We turned our out grown back garden into a flowery and fruitful garden.
It's been a joy waking up seeing all of these everyday. Having my in-laws to help me has been a big advantage for an inexperienced gardener like me. Now I am ready, willing and keen to learn gardening!

How about you guys, how's your garden doing?

Our Little Sanctuary

Welcome and Come In!

 

Ever since we moved in to our new house I haven't really shared much about the house move and the house itself. So it's time for me to share about our little sanctuary!
Welcome to 8 Makenade Avenue,our little sanctuary, our humble home. It is a semi-detached house and was built in 1935. It is near the train station, town centre, library, post office, grocery store and above all it is just 10-15 minutes walk to where I work. Perfect location!
The previous owners of this house were an elderly couple and has lived here for 50 years. They both love gardening that's why we have this lovely front garden, two green houses (one was demolished), and plenty of plant pots (big and small). hehe
Now we have lived here for just almost 4 months yet it feels like I've lived here 4 years. I fell in love with this house the first time I saw it on our first viewing. And of all the houses we viewed this is just the only house I felt at home and instantly saw myself living in here.
And how we got the house? Quite a chased! I felt so sure of the house even though there were so much to do to update it in a 21st century standard. I told my husband to put an offer but he wasn't sure so we left it for a bit. But because I am dying to get the house, I had a look again through the Internet and it said it has been taken out of the market! Someone has fancied it and put an offer!
I was so furious and upset. I rang the estate agent and alas! he confirmed to me that someone had put and offer and the owner has accepted it! I hurriedly rang my husband, nagged him and just like a brat, I asked him to do something to get it because I wanted it so much!
I was so disappointed and I cried to my mother in-law. And as always she supported me that the house is the right one for us. Actually she liked the house as well, she was the one who saw it in the Internet and told us. Now as I felt hopeless, all I did was prayed and thought if it is for us by hook or by crook we will get it and I left it in the hands of my husband.
He rang the estate agent and put an offer to the house guessing it was bigger than what the first bidder offered. The waiting game was tedious but thanks GOD he planned this house for us, our second offer was accepted! Hooray! We got it!
And since then our bank account hasn't been recovered! haha..Updating it is expensive yet we know in the long run when we've finished renovating our little sanctuary, it's gonna be worth it! :)

Now we are enjoying and happily living in this place we call HOME!

Our Visit to Mount Ephraim Garden

HOlla! 26th of May this year was one of the early taste of summer for me. It was a wonderful, sunny weekend to have fun with family and for us, it was a perfect day for a kiss and make up! *wink*
Yes, after my hunny screwed my week  we decided to spend our weekend exploring the splendid garden of Mt. Ephraim. A 5-10 minutes drive from our place..Here are some of the many photos we took;

 The Beautiful topiaries

 Father in-law inspecting the history of Rose Garden

 

We had a great time with the kids and with parents in-law!  Pictures and memories are worth remembering..

Have a great summer!

Bagot, Bored, Homesick

Ako ay nababagot, nabobored at na hohomesick na naman. Ang hirap din talaga mag-adjust at mag-cope pag nasa ibang bansa ka.Kahit lahat pa ng bagay na pinapangarap mo lang noon andito na at abot kamay mo, di pa rin kompleto ang buhay. Noon akala mo heto yong mga bagay na magpapaligaya sayo pero hindi rin pala. Mamimiss mo rin ang mga simpleng bagay na ginagawa mo noon nong asa Pinas ka pa.
Marami ang naniniwala na masuwerte daw ang mga Pilipinong nasa ibang bansa. Madali daw ang buhay, maraming pera at mas masaya. FYI po, mas masuwerte po kayong mga nasa Pilipinas.
Bakit? Dahil unang una kapiling niyo ang lahat ng mahal niyo sa buhay. May karamay kayo sa bawat problema at lungkot na dulot ng buhay. Hindi man kayo sumusuweldo ng dollars o pounds, at wala man sa inyo ang mga karangyaan sa mundo, nasa sa inyo naman ang pinapangarap ng bawat Pilipino. Ang kaligayahan na kapiling ang buong pamilya.
Base po yan sa pinagdaanan ko. Lumaki ako at mga kapatid ko na hindi nasubaybayan ng Papa ko dahil isa siyang OFW sa Saudi. Matagal din siyang nagtrabaho don mga dalawampong taon. Umuuwi siya isang buwan kada dalawa o apat na taon, depende sa kontrata niya. Kaya lumaki ako na halos di ko siya makilala at may takot sa kanya. Naging isang estranghero sa akin ang aking ama. Nong bata pa ako ayokong umuuwi siya, sabi ko di na baleng wala siya, ok na ako kay Mama.
Pero sa pagdaan ng panahon at habang lumalaki ako at nagkaisip nawala rin ang takot ko sa kanya. Napalitan ito ng paghanga at malaking malaking pagmamahal. Unti unti kong nakilala ang aking ama at isa siyang dakila para sa akin.Tiniis niya ang lungkot na mawalay sa amin para lang mabigyan kami ng magandang buhay. Dahil don idol ko siya at siya rin ang numero uno kong tagahanga. Buong buo ang tiwala niya sa kakayahan ko at matalino daw ako. Kaya simula noon ang bawat tagumpay ko sa pag-aaral para sa kanya. Nangarap ako ng matayog, kaya kong abutin ang buwan para sa Papa ko.
Kaya nong namatay siya gumuho lahat ng pangarap na yon, naging walang silbi lahat ng pangarap ko kasi wala na siya. Doon ko nakita kong gaano kalupit ang buhay, nawala ang tiwala ko sa "future" na sinasabi nila. Pano pa ako magkakaroon ng magandang kinabukasan kung kinuha niya ang kaisa-isang tao na magbibigay sa akin nito. Matinding lungkot at takot yon ang naramdaman ko. 
Matinding lungkot dahil nawala ang pinaka importanteng tao sa buhay ko. Nawala siya sa mga panahong naramadaman at naisip ko na pinaka masaya pala ang pasko pag andiyan siya. Sayang, isang beses lang kami nagkasama sa buong pasko sa buhay ko. Ang sarap pala ng yakap ni Papa pagkatapos kang murahin at pagalitan ni Mama. Don ko naramdaman na ang "YAKAP NI PAPA" kayang pawiin at palakasin ang loob ko na labanan kahit na pinakamasakit pang mura ng kung sino. Yakap na nagsasabing "Walang sino mang Puncho Pilato ang puwedeng mang-api sa bunso ko." Yakap na sana nakuha ko arawa araw kung di lang siya dapat lumayo para sa magandang bukas na na gusto at pangarap niyang ibigay sa amin.
Kaya ngayong may asawa na ako at nasa ibang bansa rin, mas lalo kong naintindihan, hinangaan at minahal si Papa.Lalo nga lang akong nasasaktan sa tuwing Nababagot, Nabobored, at nahohomesick ako, kasi naiisip ko na doble o triple pa ang nararamdaman noon ng Papa ko kasi walang siyang kahit na sino sa tabi niya. Ako masuwerte pa rin dahil kasama ko ang asawa ko, mga biyenan ko at may mga kaibigan sa banyagang bansang ito.
Pero lalo ring tumatatag ang loob ko dahil alam ko kailangan kong maging matapang para ipagpatuloy ang pangarap na binuo ni Papa sa pamilyang inalayan niya ng buhay. Kaya sa mga ta-ong nagsasabing hindi naging mabuti ang buhay namin kung hindi dahil sa mga asawa namin "PAKYU!!!!!!". Para malaman niyo hindi man kami mayaman hindi rin kami naghirap ng masyado dahil patuloy na nangarap ang Papa namin para sa amin.Dugo at pawis ang inalay niya para lang hindi kami apihin ng mga mapanghusgang taong katulad niyo! Pinaghihirapan ko kung ano man ang buhay meron ang pamilya ko ngayon.

Kaya after all I realised being with our Papa all our lives would be best than a good life. Perhaps it wasn't the good option before nong mga bata pa kami but growing up I can't even remember the good life, just the pain being away from our Papa most of our lives kaya he chose to spend most of his years working abroad just because he preferred to give us a good life. I am not blaming Papa at all or Mama, perhaps that's the bitter sweet life nating mga Pilipino. Kaya FYI po ok lang mag abroad but don't live all your life or don't let your parents/parent live all their lives working abroad dahil sa GOOD LIFE na yan!! Pag naka ipon na ng tama go home habang malakas kapa and so you have the rest of your life with your loved ones. What is a good life or money after all. Pag lumaki po yong mga anak niyo at nagkaisip tama man ako o hindi if you asked them now they would prefer to be with you all these years kesa sa lintik na good life na yan!

Tsaka family photo po don't forget, yan ang simpleng pangarap ko lang na kahit kailan hindi hindi na mangyayari unless mag photoshop!

Ang Nababagot, Nabobored at Nahohomesick, 

♥I Stand Amazed♥

It's nice to start a week praising, praying and thanking GOD for everything. So as it is Sunday, I went to church with family. It is my 2nd Sunday off (worked all Sundays last month) so I make the most of it.lol..
In the afternoon after lunch,  I had a good, long chat with my sister via skype. It was nice to catch up with her and update me of how's everyone doing. We had the usual talk of how's things back home and Mama,health update of my brother, funny stories about my nieces and nephews, career updates and plans, what's a good buy, latest gala (trip) ng ate ko with friends, silly dreams and plans in the future and sometimes a bit of gossips to top it all..haha..sshhhh...lol
It at least lessens the longing and sadness of not being with them. And somehow a reassurance that everything is alright with them :) especially my brother's health. He had a kidney transplant 6 years now and so he really need a special care and attention.
My sister told me today that my brother's laboratory and x-ray results weren't good when he had his check up. She said his create-nine and uric acid were high. His x-ray showed that he had pneumonia. So the Dr. suggested him to be admitted. He refused as he said he is feeling fine and said no need for it. He will just come back for another check up. Everyone was worried and scared as the next day the GP rang and asked my brother to come back for another check up. He had another laboratory test and another x-ray as the GP was quite worried as well. Praise GOD! As when they got the 2nd result, both results were back to normal. To GOD be the glory!! Even the GP was so amazed and happy, he said my brother is so Blessed...

♥So I share this Song as I Stand Amazed  in the presence of GOD..I hope this will inspire you too♥

He is so precious to us and we love me so dearly.
Six years indeed now! Thank GOD so much for that. We have ups and downs with his health in the past years but we managed to get through it. With our support, my brother's cooperation, and above all the power of prayer, grace and love of God. :)

" We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks, for your name is near. We recount your wondrous deeds."

Psalm 75:1

Happy Sunday and Blessed Week ahead!

♥ Mothering Sunday ♥

When the good Lord was creating Mothers, He said: She has to be completely washable but not plastic..have 180 moving parts..all replaceable.Run on black coffee and leftovers..a kiss that can cure anything, from a broken leg to a disappointed love affair..It's the 3 pairs of eyes that mothers have to have..one pair that sees through close doors when she already knows what the children are doing there. One pair in the back of her head that sees what she has to know. And one pair that can look at a child in trouble and say " I understand and I love you" without saying a word..
It's too soft but tough..You never know what she has to endure.She can think and reason and compromise.. The angel ran its finger over the cheek. " there's a leak" it pronounced.. " Not a leak", said God, " It's a tear " "what is it for?"the angel asked " It's for joy, sadness,disappointment, pain, loneliness and pride. " Then God looked sombre. " I didn't put it there."

 ♥To my Two Best Mums..Happy Mother's Day! ♥

 ♥To my Two Best Mums..Happy Mother's Day! ♥

Para sa akong Mama Panyang, Happy Mother's Day...Daku pa ko di sa imo Ma sa picture hu, in fairness you look great here super make-up!hehe..This is my super Mama by the way guys..Eufemia Escanlar Valeriano.  She is known as "Panyang" to most of the people she know, my Papa used to call her "Igot" I don't what this means or where from and why...lol. My Mama is a very strong woman, my Papa worked abroad for so many years and she managed to raise us alone. Like most mother's she is a very good cook (I miss her cooking na so much) no wonder everytime we are hungry we always say "Where's Mama?". Gosh I miss her so much, it is so hard to be away from her. But just like her I am a strong woman, all the things she taught me I keep in mind and that's how I managed to survive :)

I love you Ma and I miss you so bad..Soon you can be with me na and James, Lets keep praying for it :)

 "Happy 58th Birthday" as well  :) 

Yes it's her birthday on Monday. Hope she will enjoy her day cos she well deserve to enjoy and be happy on that day. I am always thinking of you Ma and pray gid ko for your good health and safety :) iloveyou♥

♥ To My Mum in-law Happy Mothers Day! ♥ 

When I married my husband it wasn't just his love I was blessed to have but also the love of my wonderful parents in-law. I never fail to thank God for this, how blessed I am to have such caring, loving, kind and thoughtful mother in-law. She's my first friend when I came here in England. She can be everything for me, a confidant, best friend, cook, driver, she washed and iron my clothes (lucky me..thank you), a tourist guide, a teacher, guidance counsellor and most of all a real mother. Everyday she never fails to let me feel I have a mother here as well. Like my husband, she always makes me feel special *wink* She knows when I'm bored, angry, sad, miserable.. everything a mother should know. 

 She's always there for me and James. She's an extraordinary mother in-law! Thank you so much for putting up with us, especially with me for almost 2 years now. Thank you for for everything, I've learn so much from you and I know I'm gonna learn more especially when we move out. Expect me to ring every so often to ask some advice for cooking..hehe..Thank you so much for everything...iche liebe dich! *wink*

Lots and lots of love,

♥Coy/Roxxy♥

To my Sisters, Aunts, grandmothers, Cousins, friends, and to all Blogger Mums

 ♥Happy Mothers day!♥ 

You might be confused but it's Mothering Sunday here in Britain. they celebrate Mother's Day 3 weeks before Easter. In the Philippines we celebrate it on teh 3rd Sunday of May (if I'm right), so i will greet my Mama again in May..hehe..

Don't forget to say Thank you and I love you to your Mum today! Have a happy and blessed Sunday!

Grandpa's 94th Birthday

What a busy week I had..weekend came by so quickly for me. Unexpectedly I have to work Sunday so here I am a bit tired but not too bad. I still have time to post and catch up with my weekly entry for Yummy Sunday meme. :)

This photo was taken on the 5th of November last year at Grandpa's 94th birthday. Here he is opening his present with  Emilia (SIL's daughter) :-)

And here is the yummy photo. :-) Grandpa's birthday cake and my scone (my favourite), made by my mum in-laws sister Helen..very British yes. Cup of tea/coffee with a cake and scone ( cream and jam..best to have it with tea).

And of course the day special day wont be completed without a family photo! Yay! I was not  in the photo as I took the photo obviously..lol. It was a great time for the family to be together, catch up and have some fun. We were all thankful to God for another year He blessed to our loving Grandpa :). 

♥ Hope you had a yummy weekend! Have a yummylicious week ahead :) ♥

Crazy Golf

When we had our holiday at Longleat Centre Park, one of the outdoor activities we had was crazy golf, which we all really enjoyed playing with our 2 little girls (SIL's daughters). Here are some photos to share to Our World Tuesday

Mum in-law having her turn

SIL guiding Phoebe on her turn :)

And another one

Parents in-law look really keen to have their go..hehe :)

One of the features of the crazy golf..King Arthur's sword

Hunny can't pull it out..not the right man! *wink*

Having a rest

SIL's turn

And here comes my hunny

and another shot

One of the complicated hole..Go mum!

My gwapito :)

How about you guys have you tried playing crazy golf ? What's the experience like? Feel free to post your comment and share the experienced with me :) ! Great week ahead! xx