Well I am quite proud of myself, tonight I managed to play 16 games in this unbearable heat and humidity, it's been over 20 years since I could play so many games in 1 evening so something is working for me. I should have not bothered with the last 2 as before that I had won 12 from 14, I got the weakest player of the 45 there and my legs were giving out on me so lost both, still 12 from 16 isn't too bad.
I had to drink over 4 litres of liquid (not beer) just to keep myself hydrated.
Had to have a big juicy pizza on the way home as I was famished, before that I had only eaten a sandwich so it's not that bad !! ;-)
Still no luck with the condos, but no problem I can always move into an hotel or just stay here.
I don't think Filipinos have the same attitude about fulfilling promises as I do, 3 have said they will ring me back on Friday but never did, mind you there are a lot of Brits like that too.... I've never understood that... if I say I will contact you then I do.... simple isn't it... just do the things that you say you will do !!!!!!! No excuses.
I have taken some photos around Manila, I will add them to this site once I get my own laptop up and running in my new condo...... if it ever happens.
I hope all are well there in the Sunny UK and an special congratulations to Alicia as she was appointed Head girl of St.Andrews'. Paul W please pass this on.. BTW I officially found out via a text. Congrats to Frank also whom is now Head boy. I look forward to seeing them both at the head of Assembly in May.
Sunday, 16 September 2007
Saturday, 15 September 2007
Sunday 1 am
Well as I have managed to get back online I thought it best to do my update now as it may not work in the morning.
Saturday was a quiet day, was up at 10am, went into Ayala which is a huge mall where I always get lost even though I have a map, they should offer you a SatNav to find your way around. It has 4 sections where each of them lead into yet another mall. I had to buy more shirts, socks and underwear, with this heat you have to shower and change at least twice per day, more often it's 3 times especially on badminton days.
WARNING
For those of a delicate nature please do not read the following.
CR's (comfort rooms) and I have become very close friends over this past week as I have had the usual dickie stomach. In Ayala finding the CR is like a survival test, when you do eventually find one they never have any TP (you shouldn't have to ask !!).. luckily for me I have experienced this situation before so wasn't caught out.... sensible little me had my own supply in my wallet............. and they thought I was loaded with cash !!!!!!!!!
I then returned home around 5pm, rested then had a couple of beers with a guy I know downstairs............ the beer was downstairs not the guy....well he doesn't live downstairs !!! You know what I mean ;-))))
No luck on the condo front yet, still waiting for owners to get back to me, I am seeing one more on Monday, if the worst comes to the worst I could stay in my present condo but would prefer to move downtown, it's a bit quiet here and not advisable to walk around alone in the evening.
Tomorrow (Sunday) is a badminton day, so I'd better rest as I need every bit of any energy that I have for tomorrow.......... I'll show these young whippersnappers that us old 'uns can still do it on court.... badminton that is !!!
Saturday was a quiet day, was up at 10am, went into Ayala which is a huge mall where I always get lost even though I have a map, they should offer you a SatNav to find your way around. It has 4 sections where each of them lead into yet another mall. I had to buy more shirts, socks and underwear, with this heat you have to shower and change at least twice per day, more often it's 3 times especially on badminton days.
WARNING
For those of a delicate nature please do not read the following.
CR's (comfort rooms) and I have become very close friends over this past week as I have had the usual dickie stomach. In Ayala finding the CR is like a survival test, when you do eventually find one they never have any TP (you shouldn't have to ask !!).. luckily for me I have experienced this situation before so wasn't caught out.... sensible little me had my own supply in my wallet............. and they thought I was loaded with cash !!!!!!!!!
I then returned home around 5pm, rested then had a couple of beers with a guy I know downstairs............ the beer was downstairs not the guy....well he doesn't live downstairs !!! You know what I mean ;-))))
No luck on the condo front yet, still waiting for owners to get back to me, I am seeing one more on Monday, if the worst comes to the worst I could stay in my present condo but would prefer to move downtown, it's a bit quiet here and not advisable to walk around alone in the evening.
Tomorrow (Sunday) is a badminton day, so I'd better rest as I need every bit of any energy that I have for tomorrow.......... I'll show these young whippersnappers that us old 'uns can still do it on court.... badminton that is !!!
The weekend is here.
I couldn't write this message this morning as I try to do each day, this is a 3rd world country so things like electricity, internet and other utilities don't always work all the time.
Yesterday (Friday) I looked at some more condos, a couple that I liked, I am waiting to hear from the owners.
Played badminton again last night, perspired like a pig as usual but it's good for me... so they say anyway !! Getting to more people which should help for the future. When I was having a shower there were 3 "nice" boys (if you know what I mean) singing karaoke in the changing rooms... not to me I may add..... but it was funny.... it can only happen in the Phils !!!
There are a lot of nice female players that may need my help with some coaching !!! maybe even some badminton too !! ;-)
I didn't get to sleep until 4.30pm this morning but was up and out at 10am, I am getting used to these strange hours. The strange thing is when it's late and you are watching TV or online you forget that you are in a foreign country, you could be in any room in the world.
The one thing that is annoying is the guys that accost me every day as I walk into town, they are the same people that I say NO to every time but they still insist on following me, trainers, watches, sunglasses etc, I always point to MY watch, MY sunglasses or MY trainers and say I HAVE better so GO AWAY. there is one guy that keeps offering me viagra, is it the grey hair that gives it away or what !!!! :-)) I keep telling him I don't need it but every day we go through the same routine.... is it that all of us white guys look the same therefore he doesn't realise that it is me (the same guy) every day !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yesterday (Friday) I looked at some more condos, a couple that I liked, I am waiting to hear from the owners.
Played badminton again last night, perspired like a pig as usual but it's good for me... so they say anyway !! Getting to more people which should help for the future. When I was having a shower there were 3 "nice" boys (if you know what I mean) singing karaoke in the changing rooms... not to me I may add..... but it was funny.... it can only happen in the Phils !!!
There are a lot of nice female players that may need my help with some coaching !!! maybe even some badminton too !! ;-)
I didn't get to sleep until 4.30pm this morning but was up and out at 10am, I am getting used to these strange hours. The strange thing is when it's late and you are watching TV or online you forget that you are in a foreign country, you could be in any room in the world.
The one thing that is annoying is the guys that accost me every day as I walk into town, they are the same people that I say NO to every time but they still insist on following me, trainers, watches, sunglasses etc, I always point to MY watch, MY sunglasses or MY trainers and say I HAVE better so GO AWAY. there is one guy that keeps offering me viagra, is it the grey hair that gives it away or what !!!! :-)) I keep telling him I don't need it but every day we go through the same routine.... is it that all of us white guys look the same therefore he doesn't realise that it is me (the same guy) every day !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Friday, 14 September 2007
Rest day
Thursday was a rest day for me, I couldn't exercise like that 2 days running, my legs and arms were a bit stiff but will do 2/3 hours again this evening.
I seen a very good condo yesterday, beautiful luxurious new building and a bright airy flat with big windows looking over the area, it had a big price also but worth it. The only sticking point for me is that I have to pay the full 6 months and 2 months deposit all up front..... nearly 6,000 pounds ( there's no pound sign on this laptop !!!) in cash.............. 1500 is the deposit that can't be returned to me until after 30 days ( waiting time for the utility bills), of course by then I am 7,000 miles away.... so that is a no no for me, I am in discussions with the broker and owners. It may be a deal breaker but that's life, I will just keep looking.
I saw 4 other condos but none that appealed, one had a maids room that the broker thought for me is a must have, it was tempting as it would be nice to have someone washing, cooking and cleaning for me, but I thought it is just so cheap to eat out and the units are small so easy to keep clean, my washing can be picked up and returned the next day cleaned, therefore it wasn't worth it.
During the day is taken up by looking for a condo, doing shopping for anything that I need and just strolling around watching life go by.
I seen a very good condo yesterday, beautiful luxurious new building and a bright airy flat with big windows looking over the area, it had a big price also but worth it. The only sticking point for me is that I have to pay the full 6 months and 2 months deposit all up front..... nearly 6,000 pounds ( there's no pound sign on this laptop !!!) in cash.............. 1500 is the deposit that can't be returned to me until after 30 days ( waiting time for the utility bills), of course by then I am 7,000 miles away.... so that is a no no for me, I am in discussions with the broker and owners. It may be a deal breaker but that's life, I will just keep looking.
I saw 4 other condos but none that appealed, one had a maids room that the broker thought for me is a must have, it was tempting as it would be nice to have someone washing, cooking and cleaning for me, but I thought it is just so cheap to eat out and the units are small so easy to keep clean, my washing can be picked up and returned the next day cleaned, therefore it wasn't worth it.
During the day is taken up by looking for a condo, doing shopping for anything that I need and just strolling around watching life go by.
Thursday, 13 September 2007
Soooooooo tiring !!!
Yesterday (Wed) as I said I didn't get up til 2.30pm, anyway I got list of some clubs and visited the nearest one, I played there from 5.30pm til 8.30pm...... totally knackered.
Remember these players are all between 18-25 and used to the heat and humidity, they watched me play and graded me as a "B" level which is 2nd best only to "A" level in this country, I was hoping D or even E.... hey I'm 53 next month.... 20 years and 20 kilos ago maybe but not these days !!
I really enjoyed it as they were all very friendly but the heat and humidity is just too much for me especially as here when it's your turn to play, you play 2 games back to back !! It was 30* heat and the perspiration was just unbelievable, you would have thought I had just been swimming, my shirt was soaked, my shorts changed colour with the perspiration and my underwear........ well that's probably too much information for most of the visitors to this site !!
I did quite well as I played 8 games only losing 2... not bad for a fat old bloke eh !
This morning at 10.30am I have another condo to view, this is in another building and is much bigger than those that I have seen before, the rental price is much bigger too !! I am in this condo at present until the 24th so have more time to view others.
I will rest tonight and then play again on Friday, resting here isn't as good as at home...... no sky +, I'm ashamed to say but I really miss it, TV here is abysmal. I miss the choice and convenience of sky +, pausing live TV while you make a cuppa or go to the loo, the info you can get before you choose.
Here I have no scheduling, so you have to flick through the channels, I rarely catch the beginning of anything unless I just stay on one channel.
Hope all is well in the UK and from wherever you are viewing from.
Remember these players are all between 18-25 and used to the heat and humidity, they watched me play and graded me as a "B" level which is 2nd best only to "A" level in this country, I was hoping D or even E.... hey I'm 53 next month.... 20 years and 20 kilos ago maybe but not these days !!
I really enjoyed it as they were all very friendly but the heat and humidity is just too much for me especially as here when it's your turn to play, you play 2 games back to back !! It was 30* heat and the perspiration was just unbelievable, you would have thought I had just been swimming, my shirt was soaked, my shorts changed colour with the perspiration and my underwear........ well that's probably too much information for most of the visitors to this site !!
I did quite well as I played 8 games only losing 2... not bad for a fat old bloke eh !
This morning at 10.30am I have another condo to view, this is in another building and is much bigger than those that I have seen before, the rental price is much bigger too !! I am in this condo at present until the 24th so have more time to view others.
I will rest tonight and then play again on Friday, resting here isn't as good as at home...... no sky +, I'm ashamed to say but I really miss it, TV here is abysmal. I miss the choice and convenience of sky +, pausing live TV while you make a cuppa or go to the loo, the info you can get before you choose.
Here I have no scheduling, so you have to flick through the channels, I rarely catch the beginning of anything unless I just stay on one channel.
Hope all is well in the UK and from wherever you are viewing from.
Wednesday, 12 September 2007
still looking
Tuesday was a busy day for me as I am still looking around condos. I viewed 5 in the building where I would like to live but they were all quite small. The building is really classy and it is in the perfect area but I would like a bit of space, I have put my name with other realtors and am hopeful.
In the evening I ate out and had a pint or two, met a nice guy that was very informative and helpful about the local area.
I am also in contact with 2 groups that want me to do some coaching with them so that should help me to begin to meet people.
I thought that I had done well after the first night to stay awake til late, wich helps to fall into the new sleep pattern, I was wrong as I didn't get to sleep til after 5am this morning but I stayed in bed until 2.30pm today (Wed) so a big part of my day has gone.
In the evening I ate out and had a pint or two, met a nice guy that was very informative and helpful about the local area.
I am also in contact with 2 groups that want me to do some coaching with them so that should help me to begin to meet people.
I thought that I had done well after the first night to stay awake til late, wich helps to fall into the new sleep pattern, I was wrong as I didn't get to sleep til after 5am this morning but I stayed in bed until 2.30pm today (Wed) so a big part of my day has gone.
Monday, 10 September 2007
Arrived
Hi just to let everyone that I arrived here in Manila safe and sound.
The main flight from Amsterdam to Manila was very good, due to watching 3 films, 2 TV shows a bit of reading and a lot of eating........... the time passes quickly. I arrived here at 8.45 am... KLM on time as always. I was one of the first off the plane, I was first through immigration and straight through customs, jumped in a cab and was in my condo withing an hour of landing !!
I have managed to keep awake so that I can fit in with my new time zone. It is very hot here although it is the rainy season (with no rain) it is still 30*.
It is now 7pm and I will try to stay awake for another 2 hours, the only problem that I have had is that my laptop won't work in this condo but the owner's does so he has loaned his to me overnight.
Tomorrow I will go downtown which is only 10 mins walk, I must get a sims card to use when I am here and I have to find myself a condo in the building that I want to live in for the next 6/7 months.
Thanx for the message Anne.
The main flight from Amsterdam to Manila was very good, due to watching 3 films, 2 TV shows a bit of reading and a lot of eating........... the time passes quickly. I arrived here at 8.45 am... KLM on time as always. I was one of the first off the plane, I was first through immigration and straight through customs, jumped in a cab and was in my condo withing an hour of landing !!
I have managed to keep awake so that I can fit in with my new time zone. It is very hot here although it is the rainy season (with no rain) it is still 30*.
It is now 7pm and I will try to stay awake for another 2 hours, the only problem that I have had is that my laptop won't work in this condo but the owner's does so he has loaned his to me overnight.
Tomorrow I will go downtown which is only 10 mins walk, I must get a sims card to use when I am here and I have to find myself a condo in the building that I want to live in for the next 6/7 months.
Thanx for the message Anne.
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