Painted Cuties

Aren't they just adorable! Livvy, Kayla and Hollie all painted up.

A different view of Manila

A couple of weekends ago I got to go and hang out for a few days with some good friends in Manila. I know Jo and Nigel from high school and youth group days, and hanging out with them and their girls is just like being with family.

The weekend was very low key, mainly due to the fact that Tessa was just 3 weeks old, and the entire family were still recovering from the newest arrival and the trip back to Manila from NZ. Low key was also great for me, as I had just been on camp for three days with 4th graders. So mainly the weekend was catching up, sleeping and eating.

What was nice was to see a slightly different face to Manila than the one I think most of us imagine. That dark, dirty and extremely poor face is definitely a big part of Manila, as people begging at car windows when you stop at traffic lights makes clear. However, parts of Manila - like the waterfront area, are definitely seeing change. It's nice to know that there is hope!

Looking across to downtown from the water front.

Emily and Zoe checking out what is going on in the water.

It's all too much for little Tessa.

Sunset on the water.

A conscience is a terrible thing.

As many of you know one of my joys here in Asia has always been the shopping. In fact it hasn't only been my joy, but also that of the many recipients of the importing of handbags to NZ when I fly home. This week a terrible thing has happened - my conscience has got in the way. Now I have always known that I was ripping off big movie producers (fake dvds) and fashion houses (fake handbags - sorry original copy handbags) but that thought never moved me to tears. However I have just read an article in Harper's Bazaar that talks about the use of child labour in the production of fake handbags, and the links between fakes and drug cartels. So it is bye, bye to cheap handbags, dvds and sunglasses - a sacrifice I am willing to make, but still sometimes your conscience really messes with shopping fun! Luckily there are lots of amazing bargains that aren't fakes - the credit card isn't safe yet.

Reunited!

After a long and painful separation I am finally reunited with internet access at home. First it was the internet account moving away, or more accurately the next door neighbour's account that I used moving away, then my less than 9 months old laptop had a battery melt down. It has taken 4 weeks, but tonight I am sitting at home on my computer again - bliss!