Well, a huge learning that represents the Philippines is that eventually you will get internet in your home....after almost two weeks we still do not have access at home, but are enjoying a coffee on a warm winter evening to try and connect with all of you. There is much to catch up on and share, and we will do that over the next few days.
New Home - we are thoroughly enjoying the view from the 37th floor!
The condo has beautiful high ceilings and is an open-concept with the kitchen overlooking the dining room and living room. Behind the kitchen is the laundry room / maid's quarters with their own little bathroom. No - we do not have a maid, though many do. So many people do that it was standard in every condo we saw during our search. We have put a desk in your bedroom so that when you come visit you can keep up on your email as you over look the city. We will add more pictures over time.
Scuba Diving - many have asked how this is going, and Uncle Dave and Dave Daikens were right, it is amazing! Our weekend included three dives and we are now one weekend away from certification. The "resort" we stayed at can be described as "wonderfully rustic" and really built for divers. The food was spectacular and the view was heavenly.
Just to clarify, this is not the spectacular view, but is us with Guy and Linda. Jeff works with Guy (who is British) and he is married to Linda (who is from Saskatchewan). Our new diving buddies.
While diving in the beautiful crystal blue water, we saw (amongst other things) lion fish, lots of Nemos in anemones, eels, sea slugs, sea urchins and a bizillion fish. We were not fortunate enough to see a turtle this time, but we understand they are fairly common. Maybe when we go back the first weekend in March.
So enough for now. We are still alive and continue to adjust. Miss you all, and hope you had a Happy Valentine's Day (we have never been wished a Happy Valentine's Day from a taxi driver before - Filipinos love to celebrate everything!)
The 37th floor! Well, you don't have to go outdoors to get exercise. Just walk up/and or down a few dozen stairs.
ReplyDeleteYou are scuba diving in the Phillippeans and Dave is scuba diving in Mexico while Bonnie lies on the beach and reads. By March 1, I expect they will be home.
Craig and company are all set for Kamp Inn which starts this evening. You wouldn't believe the amount of work that man has put in to preparation for this event. He is even going to give the sermon on Sunday. Pat says she is sending you the weekly Sunday Bulletin so you will see for yourself what Sunday will look like.
I'm writing this at 5 am, so it will arrive in the Phillippines about the time you are having supper - unless your meal hours are on a different schedule to comply with local meal hours. The reason I'm up so early is that I have been exceedingly tired lately so that I slept, literally, all day Wednesday except for lunch and supper, all that night and yesterday until 4.30, so of course I am slept out and got tired of rolling around the bed tonight listening to Dorothy sleep, and decided to get up for a while. Don't ask me why all this. Put it down to old age I guess. Like I told Julia, I feel as though I'm 99.9 years old.
Yesterday Dorothy was out in the south end of Kitchener looking for El Peto bakery, the gluten free place that makes all kind of gf foods she usually buys in the stores, but gets a discount if she goes the bakery, so when she has a big order that's where she goes. She got herself thoroughly lost, got down into Cambridge and even more lost when she tried to turn around to get back into K/W. You'll never guess who rescued her. It was Brenda! Dorothy finally found Chapters out there and went in for a book she has been looking for and directions. She didn't find the book she wanted, (but did find a new Mitch Albom book we have already begun to read aloud to each other) your sister who got her on the right track. Neither of us knew Brenda was working there.
Speaking of getting lost, our daughter Barbara, now returned to Gatineau from her yearly five weeks in Jekyll Island, Georgia, was shopping on the mainland a couple of weeks ago and got lost and went into a small plaza when she found a smll store called God's Store, where they sold all kinds of scriptural material. She told the cashier and a clerk "I'm, lost, but not for the reason most lost people who come in here," and they all had a good laugh.
My friends, you sound reasonably happy and I hope that continues. We are enjoying your blogs and send you our love and best wishes. Think of us every time the elevator goes up or down.
Jim and Dorothy