What a Whammy!

So we've been dealt a huge blow by the bosses. Today there was a sudden round of lay-offs. Fortunately I was not on that list, but unfortunately I am being sent to Saudi Arabia. Jeddah looks like an okay option and it is not such a bad deal. But the feeling of being pushed to the very corner and not having a choice is something that I am not comortable with much.

Having discussed the whole concept with the bosses, I feel somewhat excited about the project but the worrisome part is me leaving both you and mommy alone for a long 3 months. And that is not sure - might get extended. Although we'll bring Nanay over, and both of you won't be left alone in the mighty city, I'll be far apart from both of you and seeing each other only once or twice a month. Not the way I want to be!

23rd September.

Happy Birthday Tinkoo Chacha & Nitin Uncle.

So a nice couple of days spent here in Makati. Daddy has finished shopping for lots of shirts & some books. Can't spend like the single days anymore. Mommy has been mostly carrying you about and not shopping much and Nanay's been helping us by just being there.

Breakfast Bloooossz!

So we got up all excited & got ready really soooperfast, to launch our attack on the big beautiful breakfast buffet. Climbed down to the 2nd floor and walked in through the glass doors with the customary small OPEN board welcoming us. Beyond those doors utter disappointment awaited us. The buffet was no where to be seen!!

As we got seated, the waitress shoved little slips of paper & a pencil under each of our noses. The slip had options with tick-boxes where we were to choose exactly one dish & one drink that would be our breakfast. After she had been through with the resultant princely morning fare served, mommy was hotter than their coffee.

What a disappointment. A total contrast to the room & the service quality.

As a logical conclusion to all the conundrum earlier, we rebooked our tickets to go back a few days early and settle in our cosy home before my office starts.

Shop & Play time!

Finally yesterday we said good bye's to all at San ildefonso and got back to Calumpit where we spent a night at our small resort room. Today we left Calumpit and arrived at Manila with a plan to stay at Grantito Ber's, but had to make a hasty exit since the accomodation wasn't the best.

The bus ride to Manila and then a taxi commute to Uncle Ber's house at Alabang was a lovely drive. It rained for a long time and the green fields with the dark skies looked absolutely stunning. Haven't seen rain drops fall on the window panes in years, it was a very welcome sight. In the cab afterwards, I just mused how you've now used various forms of public transport for the very first time. Today the bus ride sort of completed all the forms available in Philippines - Jeepney, Taxi, Plane, Bus and Trike. I won't count the carabow cart for our own good. He he!

Alabang seemed like quite a happening place. Seemed almost Europe like by design. Pity we couldn't stay at Uncle Ber's house. We could have enjoyed this unexplored beautiful township.

So now we are at Jupiter Suites in Makati - the dazzling city. All of us are quite tired so we will rest in our comfy spacious room. Tomorrow begins the shopping & casino days! Ah, fun!!

The Big Baptismal Day

All of us dressed up early morning to go to the Church and get you baptized. All the invitees started arriving by 9 am and our small party comprising of Grannanay, Tito Macky, Tito Ferdie, Tito Abel & us parents with you started for the church by 10.30am. You looked quite lovely in the whole white ensemble. Met your God father & God Mother - those who could be present. I felt relatively healthier and lasted through the day of partying - eating the food cooked by all grantitas and grannanay and drinking San Miguel.

High temperatures, high tempers?

You got a high fever today and that was cause for more panic, excitement - frayed nerves and high tempers all around. I demanded for a car to be arranged to drive you to the doc - the regular trike would have gotten us all wet. Mom and relatives generally moved at their own pace and that was troublesome. When it comes to you, I get a bit excited and brush people the wrong way. So it was expected that mom and I would exchange a bit of spit fire. When that happened, I called India to speak to my own kind and found out that Granjiyamma's condition is not so good.

She fell down in her bathroom a couple days ago, fractured her thigh and is currently in the ICU with multiple problems of various kinds. This one is after her last year's accident when she had fallen off the stairs. That last one apparently wasn't enough for us to arrange a round the clock help for her. She's the one that took care of us while we were babies ourselves, and there's no way I can have her not see you in your infanthood.

It's 11 in the night right now, and your temperature has come down back to normal. Surely don't want another round of hospital stays for all of us. That too just two days before your baptismal is planned.

My courage is really worn thin today and it's proving to be very hard being in an alien country. Hope things will work out fine for us here, and also we would see Granjiyaamma all hale & hearty at Parul Bua's wedding on 9th Dec. Let's pray.

Green Days, Blue skies, Shapes in the clouds.. Ah!

What's marvellous about the provinces is the lovely blue skies with all those clouds - constantly changing shapes to suit your imagination. Fire-spitting dragons one minute, to kissing fairy couples and pigeons the next - Mom and I had a good evening doing this clouds thing today.

Seem to be happily settled - eating at Grantita Nhingnhing's place and walking about the village - mostly doing nothing. Time slows down to its laziest best in these places and makes you wanna pull your hair out of desperation. You could do a thousand things and look at the watch - it has moved only 15 minutes! We still need to get through a whole six days before moving to Manila for the shopping & casino vacation... Phew!

When Dad and Mom Fight...

You've witnessed a few of these. You've seen us argue, shout, curse and eventually get back to molly-coddling with each other. The way you smile brightly during these fights, seems like you're enjoying every moment! Hope these don't register the wrong way.

So today we had another one about my problems adjusting in the facilities that mom's family can provide and resulted in us moving to an AC room in one of the houses nearby. Mom as always doesn't like the price tag, and me - I am as happy as can be in the land of the lost. The AC is cooling, the food is alright, the San Miguels keep coming and my nosey doesn't stop dripping. Wonder if they'll name me the tissue bumbai!

Move to the original Villanueva land...

Having spent a considerably warm Friday night and a very hot and sweaty day yesterday, we moved to spend the night in this nearby motel. Mommy was not at all comfortable about the charges, but as always I am determined to get my bodily comforts worked out - shower and the AC and the toilet.

Today we moved to San Il Defonso - the land of Grannanay's father - Nenang and Mommy's Grandmother. This place is green, full of provinicial beauty and above all, we experienced rain after a long time. Not in its entirety though - can't afford to get wet with you around. The weather is lovely, only missed the Pajero and our own bathroom.

All of the wordly comforts don't seem to bother you really. You are as happy as can be, it seems. Sleeping on the wooden bed is as cosy, as long as Mommy's cuddled you close to her. Hope when we bring you back, you won't get lonely missing all the attention from around here!

Babies on the plane.

It was an excellent plane ride - we couldn't have asked for better. At 1 am, you were awake all the way to the airport, through the check-in formalities and then inside the aircraft - taking in each bit of the scene with your curious eyes. This first time we did not do the usual plane ride rituals - no movies, no cashing in on the free drinks - but this was more exciting. We landed at the Ninoy Acquino Airport at Manila all charged up & beaming brightly.

The reception committee comprising of Grannanay, Ate Grace and party was all waiting to receive us - only they missed the date. Resultant we had to travel with tita Cherise and her boy friend who planned only to pick up their laptop here. Not a pleasant ride - definitely not one to remember, we just managed to reach home.

Everybody just loved you and you threw your generous smiles and chuckles to all. We all got a very warm welcome - the weather was warmer than we expected, so we all ended up spending a night twisting and turning comforted only by the electric fan.

Late night in the Philippines happens considerably early - at 9 pm. Like a classic small village, the whole of calumpit went to sleep and then you decided to wake everybody up. You do have a loud voice - I should mention this now. So carrying you with us - Mommy, Grannanay and myself - we took a short walk up to Grantita Ella's place, woke them up and had a longish late night chat party. I was all worked up about the mosquitos - all my plans to keep them away seemed to be failing!

Today is another day. Looks like a long, hard vacation this one's gonna be!

Leaving on a jet plane...

Ok, the title again! I know it's too old and boring even for us, what about when you'll be reading this post. But honey, this the first time you'll be singing that.. he he.

So finally it is time to be leaving on the jet plane. Today is my last day here in office. It really helped that we got a holiday for Eid tomorrow, means we can sort of relax and take it easy during the day. But I know, I'll be sweating. Nervous!

Overall, we are sweating. We are so so so sweating.

I guess mom's still busy worrying about how she'll manage to come back, but my only worry is you. I've spent the last few days buying mosquito repellents, worrying about your sleeping arrangements and the rainy season. Mommy seems to be awfully confident about everything - it's her country we're going to, you know!

Chalo, let's fly. Hope you'll be a good girl, and we'll not let you down in any way. Pray to God that all will be well.

Boy Friend.

Surprising, I would choose such a title following what happened last week. But this guy is younger and hopefully gentle like his two parents, so probably you can bully him around.

So, it so happened that I got a call from uncle Nitin yesterday morning as I was driving to the office and he told me that today's the day. That they are at the hospital and it could be the day for Jaivir to arrive. So we waited the whole day for him to call again, and went to see them about 8 in the night. And then we waited about 3 hours, ate our dinner at the hospital and came back. Then we waited more, till the time he sent sms at 5 am today morning, saying that the boy arrived at 4.45.

So here's the boy friend imposed upon you at our will.. well atleast till the time you are big enough to protest!