And So That Was Christmas… Happy New Year!

And so that was Christmas,
And what have you done?
Another year over
And a  new one just begun

And so that was Christmas

I hope you had fun

The near and the dear one

The old and the young.

A very merry Christmas

And a happy new year

I hope it was a good one

without any fear…

Thanks to this John Lennon song for giving me the perfect set of words on how I wanted to wish or ask everyone during this holiday.  "How was your Christmas?"

It also perfectly put into words what I am thinking as of this moment  that the year is about to end and the holiday cheers will soon fade away.

I hope everyone out there had a good holiday!  Happy New Year everybody! Cheers!

New Year’s Eve in Manila Philippines! 

And oh just a thought… 349 days more and it will be Christmas once again.  Another reason to say CHEERS!

Meeting Good Old Friends During The Holidays Made Yesterday A One Great Day!

I hope that this will not be my final post for 2013 because I have lot of pending stories (random and rants) that I have yet to share.  Though I know it’s kind of  impossible for me to post all of them because there’s just three more days to go and 2013 will be gone.

Anyway, I just can’t help but share my so happy moments on my yesterday’s meet up with good old friends.

Kids party at a venue that I love with a good old friend and gym buddy.

First part of the day is meeting with my former gym buddy Baby whom I started to build friendship way back some ten years or more.  Her granddaughter is celebrating 7th birthday at Gerry’s Grill in Blue Wave Mall.   You see, I can afford to miss personal invitations and parties for myself but when it comes to kids party invitation for my daughter, I am really trying to find time for such invites.  I don’t want her missing the privileged of being invited and her chance for enjoyment and socialization for her young life.

More so this time it is being hosted by one dear friend to a venue that I always like – The Blue Wave Mall (Gerry’s Grill).  I like The Blue wave Mall because of its location and ambiance.   It is not too crowded nor too empty.  Also, being a Filipino food lover myself, Gerry’s Grill is one of my fave resto!  Yesterday’s kare-kare was soo yummie!

My young lady enjoying the magic show.

So I had the chance of having catching up time with my good old friend and gym buddy (and she’s still looking great as usual) to an awesome venue with great food and my daughter enjoying her day – I can not ask for more right?

Guess who called and came by for dinner?

While on the way to the kid’s party my phone rang and I was so surprised to hear the voice of another good old friend working overseas (that's what I know until this phone call).  She’s a former colleague who became one of my “BFF”.  Our friendship started about 25 years back and we see each other just once a year or every time she comes home.  But every time we meet it’s just like we were together just yesterday.

So apparently my friend is back home through an unplanned homecoming and now she's telling me over the phone “let’s go meet-up”.  I was so guilty because it was her birthday just before Christmas and I haven’t greeted her jeez!  But for the record I did not forget her birthday, I just did not get online during those times (#guiltyme).  And I said “OMG I haven’t greeted you and now you’re home!” for which she replied “That’s why I came home so you can greet me personally now!” (#evenmoreguiltyme).

Anyway, I’m really glad that she came home for the holidays.  A few weeks back I saw her hopping from one awesome part of the globe to another.

My very humble dear old friend Elvs having fun in Switzerland. I hope she won’t kill me posting this photo which I stole from her Facebook profile. LOL

So we’re supposed to meet at Mall of Asia with another good old friend whom she fetched (and surprised) from Quezon City.  This other friend never fails to visit my family at home annually during holidays just to deliver gifts for us.  The two of them by the way are god parents of my daughter.

Our meet up did not happen at the mall which is a good thing because we were able to spend quality time for this “instant reunion”. My two awesome friends came to dinner at home instead with bring-along foods that we so enjoy gobbling while catching up on each others lives.  I did not include our faces on the photo because we all look so oily while enjoying the food ha ha.

Our randomly prepared dinner table filled with take out foods. 

Old friends are among life's greatest treasure and spending time with them during the holidays is I consider one of the best part of the season.  It makes you feel blessed by just simply having them in your life.

Happy holidays everyone.  Go check out your good old friends!

Sunday Quote and Photograph: When Disposable Plastic Cups Took My Breath Away

As I step in Café Cesario at the Cebu-Mactan International Airport to have a quick breakfast before our flight back after a weekend trip, something caught my attention.

This!



In spite of my hunger, sleepy/heavy head caused by trying to catch an early morning flight, I can’t help but pause from my quick breakfast, stood up from my table and examine this piece that is hanging above the central ceiling of the café.

Obviously it's a Christmas decoration but what caught my attention is how and what material it is made of.  It is made from disposable plastic cups and its craftsmanship really took my breath away. 

My camera did not even give justice to this awesome piece but just the same I want to share it with you and so do with this quotation that I chanced upon…

“And when we give each other Christmas gifts in His name, let us remember that He has given us the sun and the moon and the stars, and the earth with its forests and mountains and oceans—and all that lives and move upon them.  He has given us all green things and everything that blossoms and bears fruit and all that we quarrel about and all that we have misused – and to save us from our foolishness, from all our sins, He came down to earth and gave us Himself”. ~Sigrid Undset~