A one-live cat’s life

By the 3rd week of November, I thought of putting a few Christmas Ornaments in my flat in Rozelle as even I will be spending my Christmas Holidays with my Family in the Philippines.  That at least 2 weeks before I leave for Philippines, there’s this Christmas feeling in my “home” in Oz.

It just seem that it has been 4 years that I have been always overseas whenever the December or Christmas season begins.  That I always do look forward seeing the festive, Christmasy feeling back in the Philippines.  Lights, Christmas Carols, Family and school friend Reunions, food which i can not describe the feeling to anyone abroad who asks me how Philippine Christmas is. It does feel Christmassy minus the snow.

Last year of 2007, 12 days before the Christmas eve I was on my own backpacking around the South East Asia met a lot of wonderful people.  And brought two travellers with me back to my parents house, whom I think became my good friends.  Went to Sagada and these Dutch and English friends of mine seem to have enjoyed the Holidays here, which is very different from the winter Christmas Holidays back in their homes.

Now I am back home again.  It was a very sad/happy feeling or melancholic for me.  Very different from what I felt from the past whenever I come back overseas.  Arriving at the airport, seeing old friends immediately at the airport, seeing my family, days after going back to Makati, my former work area and home, visited my flat, meeting with my friends, shopping at the malls just walking at the place where I used to be at, and running at my former highschool/elementary University campus.  It has not been too long for 8 months but i think i did miss a lot of people, the enviroment and the place a lot.  I am sure it is going to be the same when i go back to Oz.

So far, I have just been lazing around, waking up late, eating lots at least still able to do runs at my old school oval, shopping for my God children, wrapping gifts.

I thought of cooking something healthy for the Christmas lunch/dinner and the family Reunion on my father’s side that the family always do celebrate on the 28th of December.   Do a few more shopping of clothes and shoes as I do not have the small size aside from the kid size when i get back home in Oz.  Just right now, I am enjoying the Christmassy feeling while it last.  As I know it is always supposed to be different if i opted to stay back in Sydney and celebrate the holidays alone.

Happy Holidays to everyone!

3 more days and I am off for my Holidays! part of this is a tradition of getting my Deli from a friend every Christmas. This has been going on like 7 or 6 years. Wow i did not even think it was that long! My good friend is already in US and trying her luck with a career she is happy with and left with the business are her sons whom are my friends too, Dx and Mekong. This business has been there for quite sometime i think, and its a backyard business, what i mean is its not very commercial and it does taste very good. My Family always look forward to it every time i come home from Manila. Now that I am coming home for holidays I will not break the tradition and I am looking forward to it. I sent Mekong an email telling him my orders and I am surprised they already set up a website for the business and I am very pleased with the good work they put into it.

Anyway anyone in Metro Manila should give this a try and you’ll take my word for it :). And they do deliver and gift package as giveaways for the Holidays And they renamed it as Sankt Anton Swiss Deli

Two months has passed when the Spring season has started. Strange that it was still cold for me, specially withe the chilly breeze of Sydney, yet on day one, some people shed of their winter clothing and started wearing their singlets and shorts!

Aside from that, I did like the scenery as the trees went back from brown to green, and sidewalks filled with fallen flowers instead of dead brown leaves, and just flowers blooming everywhere, so colorful!

Locals say this Spring has a weird weather, one day we got 32 degrees and one day we get 19 and rainy. At least I haven’t not really placed my winter clothes away yet so it was convenient for me but have to be always ready to have an umbrella and shirt under a jumper in case the weather changes within the day (Melbourne weather they say-4 seasons in a day).

What I am enjoying most this Spring is the festivals. So far I went to 4 of them already. I thought it was a good time to go look for Christmas pressies and food!

Floriade - In Canberra
- flowers everywhere, very nice
- booths
- Shopped? - nothing

Balmain Arts and Craft show
- Nice display of paints, and crafts, and auction items from sports figures from footy to car racing
- Shopped: Christmas cards

The Newtown Music Festival
- crowded, lots of music going on and dancing and performances, with the midget ponies for the kids and jumping castle, more for grown up kind of festival

- Shopped - a small leather wallet for myself and food

The Glebe Street Fair
- crowded, lots of shops and food, performances
- Shopped - pendants, ring, jewelry hanger and food

The Drummoyne Family Fair
- not very crowded but the most kid-friendly festival i saw. Jumping castle, booths, trampoline, ride, slides, etc.

- Shopped: table runner for Christmas

This weekend no festivals going on, but i might be going to Palm beach.