Yes, folks. I am doing YOGA! As in Y-O-G-A-! (kailangan pa bang i spell yan?) I enrolled in a yoga class 2 weeks ago and went to the class last monday. I just got the urge to post a new blog today and what better topic to write than my very first yoga experience.
I didn't know what to expect before I went to my first class. I know that it's some kind of an excercise and relaxation at the same time. But I've never seen people doing it in real life. I've only seen pictures of it in magazines or leaflets.
It was a freezing night when I went to my first class. As I walk towards the Ozanam house where the classes will be held. To be honest, I am a bit apprehensive to go as I don't know what to do or what to wear. I was wearing jeans that night as I feel comfortable wearing it that time. Anyway, it's a stretchible jeans so even if we do stretch and bending I should be fine.
When I arrived at the class the instructor was already there. Here name is Donatella, an Italian Yoga instructor. Another girl was also there named Aoife ( pronounced as Efa). and two more person whose names I don't know for now. I might know them later on in the class yet again I might not. I was asked if I have back problems, I said no of course (not that I know about which I might have as the Yoga progress hehehe!). We were told at first that we will do simple yoga excercises that night. (yeah right!) It was really difficult and I felt I can't do bendings and of course my usual problem... sit ups! I have problem doing sit up even during my PE classes in elementary days. I just can do it!
Anyway, the whole class turned out to be fun. Although I had difficulty doing some of the stretches, I did well and even Donatella asked me if I did yoga before because I was quite flexible! Of course I feel proud of mysel then. hehehe
Tonight I'm going to my second yoga class. This time at least I feel confident enough that I can do it and have fun at the same time. And why not? hehehe
Monday, January 26, 2009
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Renewed Visa for Ireland
I recently had my Ireland Visa renewed and the Immigration Office gave me 3 years. I am entitled to a five year visa. However my passport will expire in 2012 so they gave me until 2012 and renew my visa after I had a new passport.
My visa was supposed to expire on the 30th of January 2009. Which means I'm not supposed to renew it till then. My family was thinking of going to a hot country for a week to escape the winter climate. We were thinking of going to Tunisia or Tenerife for a week. But I have to get a visa for either of the said countries. If I do decide to go to Tunisia, I have to apply in London because they don't have a consulate or Embassy here in Dublin. So we then think of applying for a visa for Tenerife which is part of Spain. So I have to apply in the Spanish embassy to get a visa. And one of the many things that they require for you to apply for a visa is to have a Irish Visa valid for 3 months after the expiry of the visa I'm applying for. That means I have to renew my visa first and wait until after I had it renewed before I can apply for the said visa.
We decided to try to have my Visa renewed and see what happens. So I went the next day to Burg Quay office with my son Francis. I had to go to a local photoshop to get myself a passport picture ( I honestly don't like getting passport photos because I think people don't really look their best in them! hehehehe). I was second on the queue so I had to wait for the photographer to finish taking a passport photo for a kid I think aged 3. I had fun waiting though because the little girl was aboslutely funny and she always smiles to the camera when she's not supposed to be smiling at the passport photo! I think the photographer had to do 10 shots before they were able to decide on the best photo.
So I went on to the office, got a number and waited for my number to be called. the number I got was 180 and at that moment they were serving number 160. I was told that they only renew visas 2 weeks before the expiry date not unless you have a flight tickets that says youre going to another country and coming back. The officer gave me the number anyway.
While waiting for my number to be called I was praying and hoping that I'd be assigned to a nice officer and I was! She was really nice. I think she was charmed by Francis who was me that day. As I have said she gave me 3 years of my supposedly 5 years visa. At that same day I was able to get my re-entry visa as well.
I currently have an appointment to lodge my application in person on january 13 at the Spanish Embassy. Hopefully I will get a visa from them. Wish me luck!
My visa was supposed to expire on the 30th of January 2009. Which means I'm not supposed to renew it till then. My family was thinking of going to a hot country for a week to escape the winter climate. We were thinking of going to Tunisia or Tenerife for a week. But I have to get a visa for either of the said countries. If I do decide to go to Tunisia, I have to apply in London because they don't have a consulate or Embassy here in Dublin. So we then think of applying for a visa for Tenerife which is part of Spain. So I have to apply in the Spanish embassy to get a visa. And one of the many things that they require for you to apply for a visa is to have a Irish Visa valid for 3 months after the expiry of the visa I'm applying for. That means I have to renew my visa first and wait until after I had it renewed before I can apply for the said visa.
We decided to try to have my Visa renewed and see what happens. So I went the next day to Burg Quay office with my son Francis. I had to go to a local photoshop to get myself a passport picture ( I honestly don't like getting passport photos because I think people don't really look their best in them! hehehehe). I was second on the queue so I had to wait for the photographer to finish taking a passport photo for a kid I think aged 3. I had fun waiting though because the little girl was aboslutely funny and she always smiles to the camera when she's not supposed to be smiling at the passport photo! I think the photographer had to do 10 shots before they were able to decide on the best photo.
So I went on to the office, got a number and waited for my number to be called. the number I got was 180 and at that moment they were serving number 160. I was told that they only renew visas 2 weeks before the expiry date not unless you have a flight tickets that says youre going to another country and coming back. The officer gave me the number anyway.
While waiting for my number to be called I was praying and hoping that I'd be assigned to a nice officer and I was! She was really nice. I think she was charmed by Francis who was me that day. As I have said she gave me 3 years of my supposedly 5 years visa. At that same day I was able to get my re-entry visa as well.
I currently have an appointment to lodge my application in person on january 13 at the Spanish Embassy. Hopefully I will get a visa from them. Wish me luck!
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Thanks to Jesenie and Nick
Hello everyone! Hope you're all having a nice day. Here I am again trying to do my best to make a Thank You blog which I promised to do to my sister Jesenie. You see, she sent us a parcel of gifts for me , my husband Eugene and my baby Francis. I didn't realize she would send us anything. So here I am now making a blog that would best describe how I felt upon receiving her gifts.
She gave me a very nice wallet with 5 aus dollars in it. That's my very first Australian dollars that I have and I promise and hope to keep that promise that I will keep it for sentimental reasons. Not that I will cry if it gets lost or something but just to keep it as a symbol that I treasured her effort. Again, thanks sis! I absolutely loved the wallet.
Next, she gave Francis 2 books. One with a Leopard and the other one about numbers. The number book is just right for Francis as he's now learning to count numbers. Although he's always stuck with number "thwoo" and never starts with one he continues to say two until I finish counting ten then claps for a counting well done! Silly boy!
And lastly, she sent Eugene a white shirt which I know will fit Eugene and I'm sure he's going to use it when he's playing squash! Good thing that Jesenie chose the white colored shirt!
All in all the gifts are all a hit! And this is my way of saying to Jesenie and Nick for everything! Love you guys!
P.S.
If anyone of you will send me a parcel, I will do my very best to write a blog about it a way of saying thank you as well. It will be very much appreciated! Thanks... hehehehe
Thursday, January 1, 2009
New Year 2009
I had a great time last night at the Filipino party I went to. It was only a small crowned consisting of friends that I know here in Ireland. I made a watermelon basket earlier on yesterday because I know that they will love it and they did especially Grace who's 2 months pregnant again after 10 years. May loved it as well and was asking me how to make it.The kids also had a great time playing with each other although Francis stayed on my side because he's afraid that Pauline ( Fanny's little beautiful girl) might lift and savage him any minute that she sees him. He played instead with Willy, the husband of the Dulce who owns the house. Willy was really nice to Francis and to all of us who were there that night.
I was able to help with the cooks ( that ever wonderful chefs, Laiden and Roland with their assistant Jeff) with the wrapping of Lumpia (glad I was of help to them hehehehe). While doing that I was also busy doing " papak " with some foods that was already prepared. I'm not the only one guilty though. Those who are not in the kitchen started to eat as well. Willy even joined us culprits! The food was really nice great and absolutely YUMMMY!!! We even forgot to say our Grace.
Anyway, everyone had a really nice time there. I only stayed until 10:30 in the evening. Eugene collected me then and we went home to meet the New Year together with Francis. Happy New Year Everyone. I hope that you all had a great time celebrating the new year.
Ryan's Daughter
Yes... Ryan has a daughter! It's not my brother Ryan but the Ryan in the movie I watched with my husband yesterday. We weren't able to see the start of the film though but what we've seen of it was worth watching. The films takes place in the Dingle Peninsula in Ireland. Mind you, the whole village was built purposely for the film but was destroyed by the film company after they finisged filming due to land dispute. The full length of the film is 195 minutes!!!
The film was about an Irish woman who had an affair with a British Soldier during WW 1. Her name is Rosy the daughter of a local village publican Tom Ryan. Rosy was married to a schoolmaster but became discontented with her marriage life.
Then Major Doryan arrived to command the British Army base. He was a veteran of world war 1, had a crippled leg and suffers shell shock. He meets Rosy in the pub owned by his father and was instantly attracted to each other. Michael, the village idiot, banged something on the wall which caused the major to have a flashback of the war and collapsed on the floor. He was comforted by Rosy and the two had a passionate kiss. The two were interrupted by the local villlagers who came to the pub. The next day, Rosy and Majaor Doryan met at the forrest and had an affair.
Rosy's husband became suspicious of Rosy having an affair with the major but keeps the suspicion to himself. However, Michael, the village idiot was able to convey to the villagers that Rosy and the Major were lovers. The vilagers considered Rosy as the village whore.
Then one night, the rebel leader arrived in Ryan's pub forcing him to help them recover the arms that was shipwrecked in the storm. Ryan, helped them but tipped the British Army first. At the sea, the villagers arrived to help the rebel leader recover the arms. Rosy and her husband arrived on the scene after discussing the breakdown of their marriage. Then came the British troops and blocked the truck of arms the rebels were on. The rebel leader was shot by the major in the leg while trying to scape.
That night, a mob of villagers arrived at the house of Rosy and her husband and wants to punish Rosy for tipping the British Army. They thought that she tipped the British major about the arms shipment. They stripped her and sheared her hair off. Rosy's father left the mob of villagers because of guilt.
Meanwhile, Major Ryan was walking at the beach and met Michael who directed him to a box of explosives that wasn't recovered. At that point, He and Rosy hadn't met for a few days. He was waited for the sunset before detonating the explosives and killed himself.
The next day, Rosy and her husband left the village with the watching eyes of the villagers. The village priest and Michael escorted them to the bus stop. A tear fell Michael's eyes as Rosy gave him a kiss goodbye. The film ended with the priest and Michael heading back to the village.
Whew!!! that was a long story! The scenes on the film reflected the life in some villages in Ireland a long time ago. It was fascinating to watch how the villagers in the film condemns a person fn an act even without a proof. This also happens in real life. The way we hear people being stoned to death because of immoral actions. I hope this won't happen to people I know.
The film was about an Irish woman who had an affair with a British Soldier during WW 1. Her name is Rosy the daughter of a local village publican Tom Ryan. Rosy was married to a schoolmaster but became discontented with her marriage life.
Then Major Doryan arrived to command the British Army base. He was a veteran of world war 1, had a crippled leg and suffers shell shock. He meets Rosy in the pub owned by his father and was instantly attracted to each other. Michael, the village idiot, banged something on the wall which caused the major to have a flashback of the war and collapsed on the floor. He was comforted by Rosy and the two had a passionate kiss. The two were interrupted by the local villlagers who came to the pub. The next day, Rosy and Majaor Doryan met at the forrest and had an affair.
Rosy's husband became suspicious of Rosy having an affair with the major but keeps the suspicion to himself. However, Michael, the village idiot was able to convey to the villagers that Rosy and the Major were lovers. The vilagers considered Rosy as the village whore.
Then one night, the rebel leader arrived in Ryan's pub forcing him to help them recover the arms that was shipwrecked in the storm. Ryan, helped them but tipped the British Army first. At the sea, the villagers arrived to help the rebel leader recover the arms. Rosy and her husband arrived on the scene after discussing the breakdown of their marriage. Then came the British troops and blocked the truck of arms the rebels were on. The rebel leader was shot by the major in the leg while trying to scape.
That night, a mob of villagers arrived at the house of Rosy and her husband and wants to punish Rosy for tipping the British Army. They thought that she tipped the British major about the arms shipment. They stripped her and sheared her hair off. Rosy's father left the mob of villagers because of guilt.
Meanwhile, Major Ryan was walking at the beach and met Michael who directed him to a box of explosives that wasn't recovered. At that point, He and Rosy hadn't met for a few days. He was waited for the sunset before detonating the explosives and killed himself.
The next day, Rosy and her husband left the village with the watching eyes of the villagers. The village priest and Michael escorted them to the bus stop. A tear fell Michael's eyes as Rosy gave him a kiss goodbye. The film ended with the priest and Michael heading back to the village.
Whew!!! that was a long story! The scenes on the film reflected the life in some villages in Ireland a long time ago. It was fascinating to watch how the villagers in the film condemns a person fn an act even without a proof. This also happens in real life. The way we hear people being stoned to death because of immoral actions. I hope this won't happen to people I know.
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