Monday 9.30pm

Went and got my ticket today for my flight to Mindanao, I leave my condo tomorrow (Tuesday) morning at 8am. The flight is at 10am. I may not be able to post much for about a week as some of the places that I am visiting are remote and don't have internet.
But no need to worry at all as it completely safe. I will still have my mobile with me so you can always contact me via that if it is necessary.

I am visiting a childrens home in a place called Talakag, it is a very quiet place I believe. Below is a pic of the bustling town centre !!


Doesn't look like there is lots to do there !!!!!

I will post if and when possible.

I hope you all have a great week

Sunday 10pm

Not much to report I'm afraid as I have been a couch potato recently, I watched the Australia v India game today which was quite good.

I'm hoping to get away some time this week, I have emailed the childrens home in Mindanao to see if I can visit there and see the place, it would be nice to see how they are doing things there and help out wherever I can... financially only I'm afraid as I don't have the time to be hands on.

The weather here over the last few weeks has been really nice, a bit like a British summer, just in the late 70*s.... very comfortable.... although today when I went for a walk I did notice the higher temperature, the summer here is about to start shortly where it will be unbearable for me.

Hope you all had a great weekend.... don't know what's happened to my Canadian contingent... haven't heard from them recently... Mary is 64 !!! maybe she is in hiding somewhere in Florida to get over it !!!!!

Sunday 12.10am

Didn't do very much on Saturday, I just watched the cricket which England lost.

Happy birthday to Mary if she reads this....is it 60 ??

Australia are playing India tomorrow I will end up watching that although I should really get out and about.

The pendulam in my mindset is changing from the Phils to the UK...... reluctantly but time forces the issue.

hope you are all enjoying your weekend

Saturday 8.30am

Well it's Saturday morning and I am up about to watch the deciding match in the series between England and N.Z. Alas Collingwood lost the toss yet again.

Happy birthday today to my sister in law in Skegness Jan, I believe she is 51/52 today.... so she says anyway... I reckon she is a year older than me but wont admit it !! ;-)

Also happy birthday to my brother Paul who was 52 on Thursday. My oh my we are all getting old !!

Hope you all have a nice weekend.

Thursday

I went out for a walk but I didn't get very far before I felt tired, I ended up in the mall of asia and just had a look around for a while, I then had a meal there before I came home for the evening.

I've been reading a lot about how the credit/property/pension markets in the UK are looking bad, because of the sub prime mortgages "frauds" that have happened in the US and the UK, things don't look bright for the forseeable future. Pensions which is my main interest will be affected by all this, I don't expect to get any good news when I inquire about how much I would get if I retired early.

So it looks like I will have to work a few years more yet, to make matters worse the Philippine pesos has risen sharply against the dollar and the pound. When I first arrived here to get 10,000 pesos from my ATM cost me just over £100 to do it today costs me over £125 !! doesn't sound too much but basically thats around 25% less value my spending power now has.... thats a huge percentage.

For example the condo that I live in now, I was thinking about buying one in this building, it would cost me £40,000 then, now it would cost me £50,000 simply because of the exchange rate.

Enjoy your Thursday and tomorrow another weekend begins

Wednesday

I was early today for the cricket, I watched Englands innings and really enjoyed it but didn't enjoy New Zealands reply. I stopped watching with about 5 overs to go as I thought that there was no way that N.Z could fail to get the runs..... lo and behold it finishes in a tie... unbelievable and I didn't see it.

I must get up and out tomorrow and get some walking done. I only have 7 weeks before I fly back to the UK !!!!!!!!!!!........... ohhhhhh nooooooo !!

Once back in the UK I will have to get up early in the morning again to work !!! How will I cope !!

I hope you all have a good Thursday.

Tuesday

Well it's actually 5,30am Wednesday (9.30pm Tues UK), I'm up early to watch England V New Zealand which starts at 6am. I have to watch it online and under difficult conditions as the signal disconnects frequently sometimes I only get 2 secs viewing then I have to reboot everything but if I can see most of the match.... I'm happy.
England have to win again today to keep the series alive... should be fun although they lost the toss and have to bat, every other match so far the side batting 2nd have won.

Tuesday was a quiet day, went to the see the specialist again, she said that I have an infection in my blood an urine so am not out of the woods yet.....more tablets. I have to see her again... I feel fine.

Hope you all have a great day with whatever you are doing