We’re going home again to Iloilo, this time with my bf, tomorrow’s flight at about 4AM!

Surprises in store this weekend, can’t wait.

Can’t announce it yet, formalities should be done first, I’m actually stopping my fingers to tap on the letters, to shout it out! weeeee.

Till next week..

Went home to the Philippines last week 7th of August 2008. And here I am back to work after 20 days in UK and 4 days of vacation to Iloilo.

I already finished my first week in UK so read on the highlights of 2nd week in Marlow till the time I get home to my hometown.

Highlights:

28th of July - 03 August

July 31st, we watched Dark Knight in Empire Theater in High Wycombe and the cinema costs £5, that would be roughly 400+ in Philippine Peso, so expensive right? But anyhow we just wanted to watch the movie. Brits are so quiet in the movie house unlike us Filipinos., :).

We we’re planning to go to Paris but it’s so expensive and all we got to do will be catch trains going their and back to Marlow, so we decided to spend the weekend  2nd of August, with our Boss and went to Bicester Village, it’s an outlet shopping mall so that means they’re almost on sale and aside from that we could have the tax refund, but only portion of the 17.5% vat for non-UK citizens.

http://www.bicestervillage.com/bicester/home.asp

After shopping we went home to Glade end and Tania cooked some steak in red wine sauce, carrots and peas and mashed potato. We drank 2 bottles of red wine.

2nd of August

We went to Longleat it’s a 2 hour travel from Marlow to Longleat, our boss accompanied us to go there, we enjoyed the Safari Park, Butterfly Garden and the Longleat house itself, and it only cost £22.00. Sadly we can’t take pics with the animals hehe coz they just roam around the Safari Park so we just stayed on the car and enjoyed the sights.

Here’s the link: www.longleat.co.uk

4th - 7th of August

Last week in Marlow

4th of August - we had a review of the trainings that our boss gave us , and on our Lunch break we went to this wedding centre and I tried some wedding gowns, unfortunately we can’t snap some photos of me on a wedding dress haha, it feels so good to wear them, May, Tania and I enjoyed it.

5th of August - we asked Tania if we could do our last minute shopping in Marlow coz shops close at 5pm! We even told Tania that we should open a shop and close as late as 12mn haha that would be great!

6th of August - our last day of office, we went to Three Horses, it’s a restaurant but serves traditional English dishes, I had the classic Fish and Chips. At about 5pm we went out to cinema to watch Wall-E, nice movie. After watching, we went to ASDA and bought some pizza for dinner and drank 2 bottles of poor man’s champagne.

7th of August - Going home to the Philippines!

We left Glade End at about 9am to catch out 12:35pm flight at the Heathrow Airport, did some last minute shopping, and be ready for 14 hours flight!

8th of August 2008!!!!!

We had our connecting flight Cathay Pacific to HK then we transfered to another carrier for HK-Manila.

And worst thing happened when we landed Manila at about 9am. We found out that my luggage was not transfered to HK-MNL Cathay Pacific so that means I don’t have any luggage with me, what about all those chocolates????!

Damn I have to catch my 3pm flight to Iloilo that day as well I can’t wait for my luggage to turn up!I reported it to Cathay Pacific personnel and they promised to send it to Iloilo.

Luckily they we’re able to locate it the next day and sent it to Iloilo, since it’s a Saturday 9th of August, I asked my dad and my mom to pick up my luggage. Only one item is missing on my luggage and empty extra baggage which I kept on the front pocket of my luggage, well that’s fine at least only that item got lost not my chocs. hehe

19th of July 2008

We left Philippines last 19th of July at about 11am - PH time, arrived HK for our stop over and connecting flight to Heathrow Airport, that’s 12-15 hours flight I guess I lost my count, so freaking tired with all the turbulence, and HK children was so noisy, almost all of the passengers in economy class was grade school children probably ages  7-16 y old. We boarded Cathay Pacific. We arrived Heathrow earlier but because of the long runway and immigration people checking our papers we got out at about 9pm UK time. Dave - our taxi driver picked us up (I guess suki na ni Tania si Dave, hehe) 9pm in UK is still with sun it’s like 5pm-6pm PH time, and OMG it’s still so cold outside. We arrived home at about 10pm, and tool some pics! Will post the link later.

We slept at about 12mn after settling all our clothes, and tried our laptops for wifi access, hehe.

20th of July

It’s our monthsary date, 30th month so I greeted my bhe early in the morning coz I woke up at about 4am (UK time), had breakfast, lounge around the house, chat and play, then took a bath at about 9am coz we’re going out for grocery at Waitrose, it’s about 5 minutes walk from our house. We bought some food and important necessities, when we get home we’re so freaking hungry hehe so we ate beef lasagne and bread.

I texted Helena if we will pursue any plans for today, we’re going out, eat out and have some giggle. We love her company I used to think that she doesn’t like us bu it turned out she’s really nice, she brought a bottle of wine, and we gave her our presents.

We went out and ate at pizza express and she bought another bottle of wine, merlot, I guess this is the all time fave of ours every time we go to UK and eat out we always buy merlot, I guess we still have jet lag after 2 glasses of wine May and I we’re already tipsy! We went home and bade goodbye to Helena, and we opened our laptops have a few chats and went to sleep, we’ve go to go to work tomorrow.

21st of July

May and I woke up early today, eat bfast and get ready for work. We arrived Emerson office at about past 9am we’re late coz we have to ask 5 people where is the way to Globe Park 4th Avenue. Anyways we met Tania again, have lil chat and then work. At 5:30pm we call it a day. We had dinner and at about 8pm-9pm I already went to sleep to tired and sleepy.

22nd of July

I woke up at 5am, I checked my cp for any messages and chatted on the laptop, went down at about 6am, went down to prepare our bfast, and get ready for work. We arrived at the office at about 10 minutes after 9am, we’re still late, hehe. We had trainings with Tania, call few clients and before we know it, it’s lunch time had sandwich. Back to work and be home by 5:30pm, maybe we still have jetlag coz I sleep so late but woke up early in the morning.

23rd of July

Jean Marie Baillon (asst. credit manager for benelux) arrive today so that means we have a guy staying in our flat, he’s so nice he’s more like a father to us coz he has 2 girls of his own about our age so we’re more like daughters to him as well. After work Tania brought us to this nice cozy place called Royal Oaks. We ate roasted lamb in potatoes with red wine sauce yummy! We even drink 2 bottles of red wine, can’t remember the name but I guess it’s made in Portugal. When we went home I went straight to bed haha, hang over I guess.

24th of July

Nothing much has happened this day, we had some trainings and called our clients, tomorrow is our month end! weee.

25th of July

We met Patch,our colleague and friend but left Emerson. It’s our first time to meet her and she’s nice. We went to this pub and the food was so nice I just finished one glass of wine but a bit dizzy maybe because the other day I still have wine on my body haha! She asked May and I if we have any plans for the next weekend coz she’s planning to invite us to her parents house. So we said Yes, we’ll just keep in touch if there’s any changes on our plans.

Saturday 26th of July

Jean Marie is going home today, I did prepared something for lunch coz he will be picked up by Dave at 3pm, so that means we can’t leave the house unless we see him go, He’s really nice and we decided to get some pics, (i’ll post it once done). When JM left, May and I did our laundry while watching Seven Year Itch, classic film of Marilyn Monroe, then after that we watched Samson and Delilah, we decided to stay at home and just roam around Marlow Town tomorrow.

Sunday 27th of July

We went out today and roam around Marlow Park, the weather is fantastic! Love the warm sunshine, we bought some ice cream, After that we went to Starbucks Marlow and went to grocery in Sainsbury.

This is week one.

I’m looking forward for our trip to the UK, I’ll be with May.. and we will stay in this fabulous house, : )

here’s the link check it out: www.countryhousemarlow.co.uk

Tania our credit manager has booked us for 20 days, 2 double ensuite rooms, fully fitted kitchen and dining room, we will self cater.

Check out the place.

I went to SMPC (Emerson Head Office) today to pick up our visas (May’s and mine). We are given the standard 180 days multiple entry business visit visa.

Aside from that I got our iterinary, we’re scheduled to leave Philippines on 11 July 2008 at 11:05am, have our stop over at Hong Kong, we will arrive Heathrow airport at about 9pm, whew horrible flight, :p Then we are to leave UK on 7 August at 12:35pm, stop over in Hong Kong again, then arrive in the Philippines on August 8 at about 9:55am, so that means I have to get a ticket to Iloilo and have my connecting flight.

whew! so excited!

Last 23rd of June, May and I went to UK VSF Process for our Visa, we are scheduled for a business visit in UK this coming 19th of July till 7th of August, British Embassy will give us 6 months multiple entry.

It’s my first time to go through this coz last 2006 we don’t have any appearance or any interview. For those who are interested about having a UK visa, all you need to do is to get the application form in there website: http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/ all requirements will be there, since we in emerson have a travel department, we just fill out the application form and prepare necessary docs such as invitation letter from UK sponsor (Emerson Network Power UK), certificate of employement, bank statements, ITR, passport, recent ID etc.

There could be as well a schedule of appointment via the website to be sent on your email. Then viola! you could now go to Phil-Axa , bring the docs and have your pics and fingerprints (biometrics) taken.

It will take only 30 minutes to an hour.

If it’s first time to get the visa it will be released in 15 working days from appearance, since we already have a visa from previous travel it will only take 3-4 days and we could now have our new visa. Ow by the way you have the option to have your visa delivered via courier it cost 300php

So excited about this trip again.

what’s to look forward..

it’s already June tomorrow, looking forward to process our UK visa,  yep, we’re going back to Marlow Buckighamshire after 2 years. My last travel to London was last September 2006.

For the month of July - travel date will be July 19-August 7.

August - I’ll be home by then, my bf will go home by then. We’ll go home to Iloilo and he’ll ask formally for my hand.

September - A month of wedding preps, I have some wedding ideas but since bhe is not here I can’t solely decide on things it’s our Wedding, not just my wedding.

October - if things pursue we will be tying the knot on this month. If not it would be December.

Our Wedding Website is under construction, I’m happy that my bes Joe visited the site and sign in our guestbook. I can’t publish it yet coz it’s a surprise for my bhe.

what’s new about me?

* new company - yep we’re now directly hired by Emerson Electric (Asia) Ltd. Effective 15th of May I’m using my new username, new login, visitor’s id, new id everything new.

* insurance - i got my new life insurance too.

* new hobby - i’m into beads galore, i’m making my own fashion statement through beads. I will post some of my obra maestra soon hehehe

that’s for now.. i think there’s a lot more of new things to come along my way.. especially end of this year (it’s a secret!) lolz

Monday… i’m on aux 5 since our aceva system is down, meaning i could browse sites, :)… last saturday Megan nad I watched atonement, a nice movie.. i do like movies that i could still replay in my mind what had happened and discuss it, it keeps me thinking.. so i decided to search for the plot of the movie and eventually buy the book and see what’s the loopholes of the movie. For those who haven’t watched here’s the plot.

England in 1935, precocious 13-year-old Briony Tallis (Saoirse Ronan) lives on her family’s country estate with her mother and sister, Cecilia (Keira Knightley). Cecilia is home for the summer from Cambrige where she had been studying with the housekeeper’s son, Robbie (James McAvoy). She and Robbie have an uncertain relationship; neither is willing to act on it but a certain romantic chemistry exists between them. One day, Briony sees from her bedroom window an argument between Cecilia and Robbie at the fountain. Robbie accidentally broke an antique vase and a piece of it fell into the fountain. Angrily, Cecilia stripped to her underwear and dove into the fountain to retrieve it. Briony is confused about the sexual tension between the two of them.

The Tallises are being visited by young relatives from the north — the twins Pierrot and Jackson (Felix and Charlie von Simsin) and their 15-year-old sister, Lola (Juno Temple), whose parents are in the process of divorcing. Leon Tallis (Patrick Kennedy) brings his friend Paul (Benedict Cumberbatch) for dinner. Paul keenly follows Hitler’s political advance and predicts war. He plans to sell chocolate bars to the British military to give to their soldiers. While he tries to amuse Pierrot and Jackson, Paul and Lola flirt.

Embarrassed by his behavior earlier in the day, Robbie tries to write an apology note to Cecilia. One of the drafts includes a sexually charged declaration of his love for her. He then writes a more formal apology he intends to deliver to her. However, he accidentally gives the sexual note to Briony while walking to dinner at the Tallises that night; he gives her the note because he believes it will be less embarrassing if it comes from Briony instead of him. When he realizes what he has done, he calls out to Briony but she is too far away to hear him. Back in the house, she reads the note and is scandalized. She gives the note to Cecilia but later confides to Lola that she believes Robbie is a dangerous sex maniac. Lola has come to her with arm bruises that she accuses her twin brothers of giving to her but Briony ignores them.

Robbie arrives for dinner. He and Cecilia discuss the note and admit their love for one another. They make passionate love in the library but are discovered by Briony. At dinner, it is discovered that Pierrot and Jackson have run away. Everyone looks for them. While looking for them by a creek, Briony stumbles on Lola being raped by someone. He runs away into the darkness. Briony insists to first Lola and then the police that Robbie was the culprit and brandishes the sexual letter to Cecilia as evidence. Only Cecilia protests his innocence. When Robbie returns with the twins, he is arrested for rape. Tried and convicted, he is sent to prison. Four years later he is released into the British army and makes up part of the British Expeditionary Force that is sent to northern France in an attempt to halt the Nazi advance.

In northern France, Robbie and two fellow soldiers attempt to make their way to Dunkirk, where the remnants of the BEF are to be evacuated after the Nazis rout their forces and the French. He has a shrapnel wound in his chest. Several weeks earlier, before he left London, he saw Cecilia again. She remained true to him for four years and begs him to come back to her. She reveals that she has broken contact with her family over her love for Robbie and belief in his innocence. She gives him a photograph of a seaside cottage near Dover that they can retire to. It will give him strength as he struggles towards Dunkirk. Cecilia is a nurse in London. She learns that Briony, now 18 (Romola Garai) has decided not to study at Cambridge and is training to be a nurse herself. Briony knows that Robbie did not rape Lola, that it was Paul — to whom Lola is now engaged and who has become a millionaire selling his candy to the British army. Briony goes to see Cecilia to admit her guilt and state her willingness to do whatever it takes to atone for her sins and clear Robbie’s name. Robbie is in Cecilia’s apartment when she gets there. Although they are angry with her, they tell her what she needs to do to make things right. She agrees, then leaves as Cecilia and Robbie are intimate for one last time before he is shipped to France with the BEF.

In 1999, Briony (Vanessa Redgrave), now in her late seventies and dying of vascular dementia, is a famous novelist. Her new book, __Atonement__, will be published on her birthday. The foregoing narrative had been one she created for her book, as an act of atonement for what she did to Robbie and Cecilia. In real life, she never saw Cecilia after she left the family, and Cecilia and Robbie never had a last tender moment in her apartment before he left with the BEF. Instead, he died at Dunkirk of septicemia, waiting to be evacuated. Cecilia died a few months later when a German bomb burst a water main and flooded the subway tunnel in which she and other Londoners had taken refuge during the Blitz. Briony hopes that, by reuniting them, she gives them the happy conclusion to their lives that they deserved and her readers the hope that everyone needs to survive.

Robbie and Cecilia walk down the beach on a bright, beautiful day. On the steps of the seaside cottage, they look at the beautiful white cliffs, then disappear inside.

Joe Wright, the BAFTA Award-winning director of Pride & Prejudice, has reunited with his filmmaking team and his Academy Award-nominated actress, Keira Knightley, for another classic British romance, starring James McAvoy (BAFTA Award nominee for The Last King of Scotland) opposite Ms. Knightley. Christopher Hampton (Academy Award winner for Dangerous Liaisons) has written the screenplay adaptation of Ian McEwans best-selling 2002 novel Atonement. Shot on location in the U.K., the films story spans several decades. In 1935, 13-year-old fledgling writer Briony Tallis (Saoirse Ronan) and her family live a life of wealth and privilege in their enormous mansion. On the warmest day of the year, the country estate takes on an unsettling hothouse atmosphere, stoking Brionys vivid imagination. Robbie Turner (Mr. McAvoy), the educated son of the familys housekeeper, carries a torch for Brionys headstrong older sister Cecilia (Ms. Knightley). Cecilia, he hopes, has comparable feelings; all it will take is one spark for this relationship to combust. When it does, Briony who has a crush on Robbie is compelled to interfere, going so far as accusing Robbie of a crime he did not commit. Cecilia and Robbie declare their love for each other, but he is arrested and with Briony bearing false witness, the course of three lives is changed forever. Briony continues to seek forgiveness for her childhood misdeed. Through a terrible and courageous act of imagination, she finds the path to her uncertain atonement, and to an understanding of the power of enduring love.

I guess i have to start reading the book ;P

Famous quote from the movie.

So, my sister and Robbie were never able to have the time together they both so longed for… and deserved. Which ever since I’ve… ever since I’ve always felt I prevented. But what sense of hope or satisfaction could a reader derive from an ending like that? So in the book, I wanted to give Robbie and Cecilia what they lost out on in life. I’d like to think this isn’t weakness or… evasion… but a final act of kindness. I gave them their happiness.

A week more to go and I’ll have a long vacation in ILOILO again, I’ll be home on Friday 21st of March, first flight and my dad will pick me up. can’t wait. I already bought Prison Break series season 1 and 2 for movie marathon, eventhough I already watched it, I’m also planning to buy another puzzle for my room in Iloilo and to see what my brother has done with my room, I instructed him to put an overhead shelf for my books and stuff toys.

I did also asked my cuz to buy some chocs in Duty Free, my mom loves chocs, hehehe. what I’m gonna do is grab the chance for long sleep, morning walks along the beach, be lazy for about 4 days hehe.. and feel refresh when I go back to Manila on 25th of March.

I’m looking forward as well for Emerson migration, that means I’ll no longer be working in a "call centre based" but to a corporate one, by end of this month we will be signing up for a new Job Offer from Emerson.

Till my next post.