Hello You! You're my friend...and I'm celebrating You! ❤

Friendship Give-aways for Thanksgiving!


"...Was my only chance at friendship here destined to be thwarted at every turn?"- Sophie Mercer, Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

I have met a lot of wonderful people in my life, some of them became very very good friends.  There were, however, many thwarted friendships as well.  There had also been on-line friendships that began well...and ended up really bad.  I'd like to think they are ones that are never meant to be.

Why am I mentioning the thwarted and the unpleasant ones?  Because  I believe life shows us these undesirable things sometimes to let us focus more on the good!  It has made me appreciate more what I have!  This is why, I'm celebrating all the friendships I have in my life!

This message is to thank all of YOU:  Blogger friends, fellow writers and readers out there who have always been there for me.  Whether or not I have something worth reading, you are always there.  I often find myself unable to write anything worthy of posting and yet you keep coming back.  Again and again.

So, please let me tell you.

I heart  ♡♡♡ you all.

I'm celebrating Friendships!! YaY!

This Thanksgiving (in the UK, we don't celebrate Thanksgiving but I'd like to join my my friends in USA and in other parts of the world who are), I'd like to take the opportunity to tell you how grateful I am for each one of you. You know who you are.  I'm so glad that we crossed paths, that we are on-line buddies and that ours is the kind of friendship that has not been thwarted.

As a sign of my appreciation and lurve and with the help and generosity of friends who are donating books (massive thanks!), I'm giving away:

From the Author of Lovely Bones, Alice Sebold.
This is her memoir.

A Breath of Fresh Air by Erica James
A story of finding love again after a tragedy from
a Sunday Times Bestselling Author

An e-copy of Build a Man - donated by the author, 
the Bestselling Novelist Talli Roland
She is also the author of The Hating Game and Watching Willow Watts
Big thanks, Talli!

An e-copy of The Doll by J.C. Martin
A delightfully creepy novellete and a must-read for any horror-lover!
Donated by Author J.C. Martin
Big thanks, J.C.!

A YA dystopian novel by Rae Mariz
This will be sent by mail to one of the winners within the USA only
Big thanks to my friend Theresa Milstein for this book!


and I also have:

A beautiful floral Writing Set with 20 sheets of writing paper and 10 envelopes
plus I'm including some surprise treats inside!

Come on, I know you want them!  It's easy, you can do one, a combination or all of the following:

1.  share this on your Facebook wall - 1 point
2.  share it onTwitter - 1 point
3.  post a link on the side bar of your blog - 2 points
4.  write a blog post about it - 3 points

Please leave me a comment telling me what you've done and which books above you like in order of preference...and don't forget your name and e-mail address so I can let you know if you are one of the winners!

This ends on 30 November 2011, 12 midnight UK Time.  Winners will be announced after 30 Nov.

All giveaways, open internationally.  The Unidentified by Rae Mariz is open within the USA.

I'd love it if you follow me but it is not necessary or a requirement to enter. Sharing the news is to let others know I'm celebrating them, too.  Thank you so much for being here ❤ 

♥♥♥BIG Thanksgiving Hugs!♡♡♡

Wednesday Fun - I've been tagged!

I have just learned that I've been tagged by Author Jessica Bell last month!  Yes, last month! Can you imagine how bad I am that I have not read it???  So if I have not visited your blog for awhile, forgive me.  It's not only you.  I have noticed quite recently that a few of my followers are 'unfollowing' me, maybe they think I've forgotten them because I have not been commenting for awhile.  That's sad.  Believe me, I have been trying.  I am! I really am! Just can't keep up, lovelies!  Eeeeeeekkkk!!!

*Calming self down*

*Breath in.  Breath out.*

Shall we continue? Jess tagged me so here's what I need to do:  I have to answer the following questions and follow the instructions and tag five lovely bloggers.

Do you think you're hot?
Are you referring to my body temperature? I can assure you, it is normal. Hehehe.


Upload a picture of wallpaper you are using at the moment.
This was taken in 2008 when husband and I went to London with our two good friends, Jemima and Orren.  I loved those two days with them. This shot was taken by Orren and it reminds me so much of how much fun we all had.

When was the last time you ate chicken? 
Last week.  I made chicken/pasta soup.  


The songs you listened to recently?
I Finallly Found Someone by Barbra Streisand and Bryan Adams.  I loved the film, Mirror Has to Faces and it was on TV a few days ago....so I thought I'd listen to the 'theme song' on youtube.

What were you thinking as you were doing this?
I need to sleep.  Yes, I do.  I really do.  ZZZzzzzzzzzzz.

Do you have nicknames? Yes

I am called:
Len by everybody
Leni by family and closest friends

Tag five bloggers and state the reason why:


Theresa Milstein - because she's a lovely friend.  It always makes me smile when I get an email from her.  She is always so kind and helpful to me, always has the answer to my questions.  She's a great friend and a talented writer. I heart her! 


LindyLou Mac - for all her book reviews which I love and look forward to reading.


Glynis Smy - she's been a blogger friend since I began blogging and I did not even realise she's always there to visit my blog, even when I had no followers!


Lisa Stowe - she believes in me and my writing and that is huge.  Her words of encouragement are something I hold on to when I get really down and I feel like I write crap.


Jessica Bell - tagging you back, Jess! She's such an inspiration to me.  I cannot think of anything she can't do - she writes novels, poetry, she sings (and she's got an angelic voice!) and she edits, too! Not to mention her good looks! I think when the Universe distributed talent and all things good, she was in the front row!


******


The winner of the Book Give-away is Ycel Zaleta!!!  I will be posting/mailing the book soon! Congratulations!


******

Signing Back In!

I'm back!

I am so glad to be back!  It feels like forever not blogging! Pfffffft.

It's all been sunshine over here.  Well, that's lying.  It hasn't been all sunshine.  It's been erratic - raining, sunny, raining, gloomy, nippy, sunny again.... - but we've been having lots of brighter days and it's been really lovely!  Hope you are enjoying the summer, too.

Due to my absence, my interviews with writers and authors also had been delayed.  So I better get my bum in gear and get them posted!

I'm hoping to be able to visit all your blogs in the next few days now that I have some time all to myself.  Thank you for being patient with me.

How's been life treating you?  How's your writing?

I have not abandoned you

Just a quick message for everybody.  Sending my apologies if I haven't been to your blog and have not left a message or made my presence felt.  Not even a smoke signal.  I know I'm such a pain, ugh.  It's been a very busy time for me.  I'm quite stressed at the moment.  Oh don't worry, everything is fine.  Just been pretty hectic.  I cannot keep up.   But trying my best to.

I will be active on the internet as soon as I am able.  Please know that I have read all your recent comments and I appreciate your time and your presence on this Blog.  Thank you soooo much for all the support and the luuuurrrvvee.  And yes, please let me say this - I am missing all of you.  I miss blogging.   I miss reading your posts.  I miss it all.

I promise I will return.

For now, I bring the curtain down.  Only for another week or so, hopefully.

Hugs to you all my lovelies! ♥♥♥

Heartfelt Gratitude

I'd like to thank you for all the lovely and heartwarming comments you have left on my last post.  It is truly heartfelt and I really really appreciate them.  Thank you also to those wonderful people who sent me emails. I feel so blessed, so lucky to have found such beautiful people like you.  The world is indeed a better place because of you, all of you.  So, thank you.

The bad days are over, thank God.  My son goes back to school tomorrow.  I'm looking forward to spending the week having a regular routine again.

Lastly, I'm sure you have heard the bad news about Japan.  My heart also goes to all the people of Japan.  A good friend of mine lives in Chiba.  I'm glad to know she and her family are alright and I keep praying and hoping that they will continue to be safe.  Hugs to you, Menchu, Hiro, Yuuna and Yuuki.

Not a big post today.  I will be returning with a surprise author interview soon.

Stay safe, blog friends.

What was the lie?

Hello fellow crusaders and bloggers! *Waves*

It's been awhile...five days!  Yes I have not blogged for five days.  I've been a busy bee so I hope you all forgive me :)

No big post at the moment but just to say thank you to all of you who came and left a comment on the First Crusaders Challenge! A little bit of good news - I have now followed all of the crusaders.  I mean, all of those who can be followed! Whew.  At last.  It's fun meeting all of you and I'm looking forward to getting to know you all and reading more of your blogs! ☺

Now, the lie?  Oh my God! Almost all of you guessed it right! Ha ha ha!  Yes, I love donuts to bits. My favourite is Bavarian flavour but I can't find any over here where I am.  So sad.  The rest of the things I said were all true.  Hmmm, yes, including the G-strings.  Hate them.  I don't know why they were invented.  They don't support or cover anything, do they? They are just strings! ☹

I hope you are all having a good weekend!  Now have to cook dinner ♨

First Crusader Challenge!

Here is the First Crusader Challenge!!! Thanks to Rachael Harrie for coming up with a cool idea!  


Today, I will be telling you:


one secret
one lie
one interesting quirk
one annoying habit
one of my best character traits, and
one of my favourite things in the whole world. 


*********************


Here goes:


I love to sit by the sea, listening to the sea waves, in the summer of course, and read a book.  I'd love to stay there for hours, just relaxing.  With no interruptions.


I don't wear G-strings.  It hurts.  It actually feels like a metal blade slicing my bum.


I hate donuts.  Especially Bavarian flavour.  Totally.


My other half loves to playfully bloviates.  I find it really funny.  I think when he gets funny, it brings out the funny side of me, too!


My husband studies birds. I'd like to ask him what fuliguline is.  Problem is I don't like going out in the cold just to watch birds.  But I do like them. Yes, I do!


When house cleaning gets to me and it gets really annoying, I rabbit a lot, then husband disappears.


**********************


I may have revealed something about me that isn’t strictly true, can you guess what it is?


Don't forget to visit the others and see what secrets they've revealed!  Click here to go to the list.

Here are the Winners!

Hello there! Thank you for your patience with me.  I am now feeling a lot lot better although I must say that the cough has not gone completely yet.  I'd like to imagine this cough to be a tiny insect that I could swat.  If only.  But never mind, the most important thing I am here for today is to announce the Winners to the 200 Followers I heart You ❤ Celebration! 

I asked the kindness of my other half to draw the names for me :)

Drawing the first winner from those who earned 5 points!

Here's the bowl with all the entries

And now here are the Winners!!!!

Drumroll please!!!

Glynis wins Welcome to my World by Miranda Dickinson

Cheryl Anne Ham wins Keeping Faith by Jodi Picoult

Lola Sharp wins Head Over Heels by Jill Mansell

Margo Kelly wins Becoming a Writer by Dorothea Brande

LindyLou Mac wins Extraordinary by Nancy Werlin (a gift from the lovely Theresa Milstein, thank you Theresa!)

Congratulations!!!

Please e-mail me the address that you'd like the book to be sent to.  My e-mail address is:  conversationswithlen (at) yahoo (dot) co (dot) uk.

Thank you so much to everyone *Big Group HUG*  I will be dropping by your blogs to say hello! :)

xoxo

Happy Choco-Wednesday!

Hello everybody! I'd like to thank you all who joined the 200 Followers I heart ❤ You Celebration! I'm so very pleased to meet all of you :) I've visited most of the blogs and will check the rest in the next few days. I hope you bear with me if I'm too slow checking blogs and leaving comments this week. I've been under the weather and have been experiencing sleepless nights due to very bad cough and colds.  I'm grumpy as well *sigh*...my poor husband has to put up with me *sad face*...but no worries, I'm hoping to get better in the next couple of days.

I hope you are all having a fabulous Wednesday!  How was your Valentine's Day?  I know, I know, it's all too commercialised and all.  I don't believe in Valentine's Day per se but it was still nice when my husband gave me a beautiful card and a box of Thorntons chocolates.  I thought that was sweet and thoughtful, don't you think?  We also had a family evening out, husband, son and myself, on Sunday...yes, I ignored these darn flu-like symptoms so ended up having to take medication, including the most horrible tasting cough syrup that knocked me out completely that night.  Yuck.

The 200 Followers I heart ❤ You Celebration will close at 11.59 p.m. tonight, a minute before the clock hits the 17th of February, USA time.  I thought it would be best to use USA time as I'm based in the UK (7 hours faster/away).  I hope this gives those of you who'd like to join enough time.

Once again, thank you soooo much everybody. I've enjoyed this celebration with you.  Now, I'd like to share with you some chocolates, too!  ((((Hugs))))))

And oh, wait!  My friend, Theresa Milstein on Substitute Teacher's Saga has now announced the lucky Winners to her 400 Followers Fiesta!  Please go over and check if your name has been picked! 

x

200 Followers I heart ♥ You Ce-le-bra-tion!

Hello friends, thank you so much to all of those who joined and followed me, and good old blogger friends who've always been there to support me.  The contest will have to close by Wednesday, 16 February since I have now reached 200.  The winners will be announced on 18 February.  Hugs to you all!

*  *  *

Oooops, is it Valentine's Day today?  If you think this is a Valentine post, you are wrooooonnnggg!!! *snorts*  But since it's Valentine's Day, I thought I'd call this my 200 Followers I heart ♥ You Celebration!

The truth?  I am now getting very close to reaching 200 followers, woot-woot!!!  I am really very pleased to have gained so many friends in blogland.  You all rock!  And I hope you all know you do!

To show you my gratitude and lurve, I am giving away four awesome books.  The first three are all adorable, beautifully-written stories by the most amazing authors.  I love all of them, each has got a unique story to tell.  I would like to pass them on to you and let you experience them too.

The fourth one is a book on writing by a well-respected author and editor.

Drumroll please...

The Sunday Times Bestseller, Welcome to my World by Miranda Dickinson
This is one beautiful love story you wouldn't want to miss!

Another beautiful and funny love story, Head Over Heels by Jill Mansell
How would you handle it if the man who just moved in next door to you is the man you were so in love with years ago?

One of my Jodi Picoult favourites, Keeping Faith.

Find out if Faith is really talking to angels!

and

Becoming a Writer

by Dorothea Brande

To win any of these books, all you have to do is:


Follow me = 1 point
Already a Follower = 1 point


Post on your Facebook Wall = 1 point
Tweet = 1 point
Both = 2 points


Post on you blog - 2 points


After following and earning points, please leave me a comment with your name, e-mail address and link to your blog and points earned and the order of your book choices.  It is important that you send me your e-mail address and blog (URL) address as sometimes Blogger won't let me get to your blog by just clicking on the tiny icons on the 'Followers' list.

My husband will pick the names for me.  For those earning 5 points, your names will be included in the raffle pot for all four books.  If you earn 3 to 4 points, your names will be in the pot for the next three book prizes.  If you earn 2 points and below, your names will be in the raffle pot for the last two book prizes.

This is open internationally.  Please do not worry if you are based outside USA or the UK, your prize will be sent to you by post (mail).

Winners will be picked once I reach 200 Followers!  ♫♬♪happy dance♯♪♭ ☺

I wish I could give books to everybody ☹ I feel awful ☹ having to do a raffle but I hope whoever wins will enjoy these amazing books! ☺

A HUGE thank you to all of you!


*   *   *


There's an additional book from my good friend, Theresa Milstein:

An autographed copy of Extraordinary by Nancy Werlin

Yay! Thank you, Theresa!

Book Giveaways Coming Soon!

Wow! I can't believe I'm getting close to 200 Followers! *celebratory wacky dance that only I know how to do*

Woo-hoo!

What can I say? Thank you, thank you, thank you, dear blogging friends and fellow writers...I'm so delighted!

I am having a 200-Followers Ce-le-bra-tion on Monday, so please come back to see my book giveaways that I am very sure you will all luuuurrrrvvvee!

At the moment, I have 170+ followers, I am hoping that by the end of the celebration, I will have 200.

Have a beautiful, enjoyable, amazing weekend everybody!  See you all on Monday!  Hugs!

xoxo

Blogvolution

There is no such word.  I've invented it.  It means evolution of a blog - Blogvolution.  Hhmmm, doesn't sound right, does it?  Sounds more like blog revolution.  But never mind.  Ok, so what's with the title, you ask.  Well, I thought I'd write something about the changes in my blog since some friends who have been my followers and readers (some lurk and just read my posts and not commenting which I really appreciate) have began to wonder what's happened to this blog of mine.

You see, Conversations with Self began as an on-line journal sometime in 2006-2007 when I moved to the United Kingdom from The Philippines.  It was to keep my friends abreast on what's going on with my life.  It was easier than e-mailing each one of them, then I began to meet blogger friends so my blogging changed.  I started to write my thoughts out, at times writing seriously.  Those who are close to me have always known my love to write and I'm sure they are not surprised to see that my blog has evolved from writing the mundane to writing about books, chats with authors and writers and what's new in the writing world.  Of course I still write about life in general and life experiences, I cannot separate that at all.  After all, it's my life I'm writing about.  Now, why am I writing this?  It's to purposely mention the changes in my blog and to let my blog friends and readers out there know that the reason why I have not opened a new blog for my writing career is that I cannot keep more than one blog at a time.  I tried but I ended up deactivating my additional two blogs.  Maybe one day when I'm ready, I will open a fresh blog account, but not right now.

Yes, my darlings.  That's what's happened to this blog.  It just changed a little bit...ok, ok, maybe not a little bit but evolved hugely *laughter* but, hey, it's still me blogging.  I still write about life, about the little things, but mostly, I post more on writing because it's what I love the most.  I hope I don't bore you when I do.  I promise I will try to make it sound interesting *winks*

And to you, my fellow bloggers and writers, do you have more than one blog?  How do you keep them up-to-date both or all at the same time?  As a writer, would you recommend or suggest that I open a fresh one?

The Nicest Christmas

I know I should have posted these photos a long time ago....and I know I should have written this entry last month, but it's been a busy four weeks. Going back to work and all...and most of all, coping with my winter blues. So I'm sure you will understand.

Our Christmas was a blast. I wouldn't say I felt complete as being with family and friends in the Philippines is still incomparable. But husband and I tried to enjoy every moment of it. For awhile, it helped to be in the company of Filipinos - and yes, nice Filipinos for a change. This wasn't our first Christmas celebration with them. It was the second and...counting. Our good friends Anne and George invited us once again to come to the Filipino Christmas Party in New Milton where they live. We were welcomed and we felt 'at home.' My husband, as usual, enjoyed being with good old friends, seeing his good old friend George and one of his favourite nieces, Amiel.

Top photo - Almost everybody got very excited whilst we were taking photos

Middle photo - Jim dancing with dear Amiel

Bottom photo - Jim and I dancing - or should I say swaying? We don't know how to dance. No, really.

Sorbetes in Norfolk!

I've lived in Norfolk now for more than 2 years...I can't remember NOT seeing ice cream all year. I may be wrong but this is only my observation. Maybe ice cream shops are close during the peak of winter - I will check on that when winter comes! In the Philippines, we drink extremely hot coffee during the summer for 'merienda' (snacks or mid-afternoon mini-meal), here in England, people love ice cream, yes, even if it's cold. Hubby loves ice cream any time of the year. Yes, people, he doesn't mind eating ice cream during the winter! So, sharing with you a photograph taken with friends Jemi and Orren and hubby looking on as Jemima gets her ice cream at Norwich City Centre.

For my dear Ruby

This blog is for an amazing friend, my dear Ruby Calampiano. Bie, do you remember those times when you'd give me European travel magazines or you taking me to travel agencies so we could get the latest copies of their European travel brochures? I do. I remember looking at those photographs, the Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, the River Thames. Little did I know that one day I'd be married to someone who lives where these places are based. Little did I know that one day I'd be here to see these places which remind me so much of you.

I used to dream of the two of us with our families travelling the world. I still dream of us together. I know it won't be like the old times anymore when we would be working late, when we would have late dinner then whether or not it was a Friday, we would be sitting in front of the TV watching a very good film until the wee hours of the morning.

Bie, this is to thank you for your friendship. For all those times when you were there for me. For the years that you mentored me and made me a good HR Analyst. For the years that we attended SOMM which practically was like having a 'life manual.' For those very nice long chats about the books we have read or films we have seen or life and life's lessons. I cannot thank you enough, Bie. You are like a sister to me.

So let me just say, this is for the dream for us to be together again.

Top Photo: The Houses of Parliament and Big Ben taken on the boat whilst cruising the River Thames.

2nd Photo: The London Eye (Pardon me, I think I misspelled the 'Eye' and made it 'Eyes' so I've corrected it now.

3rd Photo: Harrods

Bottom Photo: The Tower Bridge

The Beauty of Hunstanton

This is the beautiful Hunstanton, my favourite place of all in Norfolk. Hubby and I took our dear friends Ed and Karla there last month. It was a pity that we weren't able to take dear friends Jemi and Orren. Above is a photo of us (Ed, Karla and myself) in front of a fish and chips shop overlooking the sea. The town centre is actually on top of the hill and when you're on top, sipping a cup of tea, it is lovely looking down watching all the birds and the kids playing. I tell you, it is such an amazing place.

This photo (above) was taken from the seafront.

Another lovely photo, a scene from the top of the hill. This is what you see when you're enjoying the heat of the sun and having your piping hot fish and chips. PS: I dedicate this post to a very very dear friend of mine, Wen Ahles. This is for all the phone calls we've had talking about Hunstanton and our dream of going there and writing our manuscript by the sea. This is for that dream that I know will come true.

Animated Conversations

In animated conversation with Jemi, Orren and hubby. This photo was taken by my better half and I liked it. I like looking at how jolly I was that weekend. It's kind of nice to look at ourselves by detaching ourselves from the picture. It's like imagining you are not the person and just observing what actually happened. So by looking at this photo, I become a mere observer, not the actor, not the person in the picture.

Revisiting London with Jemi

Mood: Still sleepy...it's Friday night and I will get the chance to sleep all morning tomorrow!!! Woo-hoo! My favourite day is Friday!!!

I have to tell you before you proceed that I am not a travel writer. I am not very good at describing places. I think I do not give them enough justice. I cannot seem to find the perfect adjectives to describe a place. I always check the on-line dictionary and thesaurus just to find the right words. So bear with me, I beg you.

On my birthday last year, hubby took me to London - for the first time. I was in awe. It was a long-time dream to see The Houses of Parliament and The Buckingham Palace (although during my first few months here, I kept calling it 'The Birmingham Palace'). But we were pressed for time last year. So this year, with my dear friend Jemima and her hubby Orren, hubby and I went to visit London again....and this time we went on a cruise!

How exciting it was! It was like visiting the place for the first time again. This time I got to see St Paul's Cathedral up close and I was able to take a proper photograph of the Westwinster Abbey. Plus - I took photos of me and Jemi with the Big Ben and The Houses of parliament behind us!!! This time we were not so pressed for time - although we still felt we were because we wanted to do so much and go to so many places all in one day but of course, we couldn't. London looks like a giant city to me, everything seems to be huge! We still had ample time to go back to anywhere we like but our legs and feet were just so sore and we were all starting to get cramps that we just all gave up and had a meal at Liverpool Train Station. That was the last meal we had together before Jemi and Orren left. In two years, they were the very first who came to our home and spent a weekend with us, this is why husband and I find it to be so special having them in England. Jemima was like a childhood friend, someone who knew about my family background, who knew my Dad and Mum, my sister and brother. Although we had to catch up on a lot of things - practically almost 20 years of not seeing each other, we still felt so comfortable with each other. We still talked like it was only yesterday when we were together doing our term papers, projects and assignments in college. Ok, stop Len, stop, this is supposed to be about London. Yes, I know, but Jemima made the London trip more memorable and more enjoyable so, actually, this is about her, isn't it? Ha! I better stop now as it is pretty obvious I am starting to rattle.

Yes, London became even more beautiful with a very dear Jemima in tow. Of course, it wouldn't have been much fun without our hubbies to carry our bags, haha!

I told you, didn't I? I am not a travel writer. And this is not a travel blog.

Top photo: Me and Jemi sticking out our tongues, behind us is The Big Ben Bottom photo: Orren and Jemi in Norfolk, near the Norwich Castle

The JEWELLS

Mood: Relaxed

Been really busy the past two weeks. I will be posting about my trip to London last week and visits from beloved friends Jemima & Orren and Karla & Ed.

For the meantime, here's a lovely photo of my dear old friend Jemima with me whilst roaming around Norfolk with our hubbies. It was a beautiful weekend with them two. Jemima and I spent two days and two nights reminiscing the good old days. When we were in college, we called ourselves, The JEWELLS. You know those good old days, we did the corniest and silliest things, didn't we? The word JEWELLS actually is an acronym for our names. We were a group of 7 young ladies who studied and hung out together. J stood for Jemima, E for Ellen, W for Weng, another E for Edlyn, L for Lorie, another L for my nickname Len and S for Sonia. We somehow found a way to get hold of each other's emails and have now been communicating via email. But of course this also opened the door to constantly communicate with Jemi, haha! (which surely will drastically increase my phone bills! but what the heck!) ...and being as dramatic as I am, it made me cry leaving Jemi and Orren at the Liverpool Train Station that Sunday night. Bhuhuhuhu. I truly enjoyed being with them. Hubby also enjoyed the time with them and we could only wish that it would happen again one day.

My Lovely Prestonian Friends!

Mood: Excited! A friend from way way back (University years) is coming over to visit us! Talking about friends. I haven't told you about hubby's best friend (and childhood friend), Reuben and his lovely wife Pat. Two lovely people who always welcome me in their lovely home when we visit Lancashire. We always enjoy our visits. The last time was early this year, just before spring. I would like to share with you some photos with them (Reub and Pat, thanks for the permission to publish these beautiful photos with you!)

This photo to your left is Reuben whilst cooking his specialty for us...it was lovely! Reub, I was stuffed that evening! Thanks so much!

Husband and I always enjoy their company. We always have a good laugh with them. They are also the first two people who made me feel like I belong here. They made me feel so welcome. I remember my husband introducing me to Reuben over the telephone when we were in the Philippines. That seems to be a long time ago now. My better half was saying the truth, Reuben and Pat were ones of the very few people who accepted me with open arms. I know I get so dramatic sometimes but it was difficult for me starting here with no friends, no family, nothing. But with my two friends Reuben and Pat, it was a much better world for me. Life was easier.

Thanks to the both of you, Reub, Pat! We will see you again very soon!

From left: Pat, Reuben, myself and husband.