New apartment

We have moved into our new condominium!
It is on the 45th floor - with an awesome view - it feels like we are living in the sky!
The only problem is that it has no furniture and we have been eating off the floor!  Luckily I managed to get some beds and one couch delivered before we moved in - but other than that - it looks pretty empty.

Our helper Maritress has just started as well - we have a bed for her!  She is from Batagas which is 3 hours from here - where the active volcano is.  I had to buy her a uniform because apparrently all maids in this building have to wear uniforms - and use the service elevator.  They also have their own "dirty kitchen" which is where they cook and eat.  It is quite weird and doesn't feel natural at all.  So far she is excellent - folding everything so neatly, cooking the dinner for the kids - and us if we want it - but I need something to do!  I am actually going to a seminar next week on "how to manage household staff"  it is run by ANZA  - and is actually a skill - I am starting to realise I have no idea about.  Maritress has a 5 month old baby who is being looked after by her husband - she will travel back home every Saturday afternoon and come back for 6:00am start on Monday morning to make Martin's lunch for work....

On the other hand our driver has already said that his father has died and needs some money now - we have no problem with paying him for what he does but I have a feeling he is not telling the truth and I have lost trust in him.  I spend so much of the day in the car - it is not good not to trust the driver.  I am going to give him the benefit of the doubt - maybe his father did die - but we have been warned about things like that.  maybe I can find out what to do in my seminar!!

The apartment has the most fantastic pool - it is like a resort and the kids are LOVING it!!  William is so hard to get out every afternoon - and is swimming like a fish.  Charlie is now swimming without any floaties as well! Although I have to follow him around!  They have already made friends with two Australian boys who's father works in the Australian embassy - there are alot of people from the embassy in this building.

First morning in our new apartment at least we had one couch to sit on

Think we might have to get a tv?

William and Charlie with their new friends Kai and Liana

Martin getting a tattoo at a dodgy birthday party

The surreal clown act at the birthday party.  Party boy pinup in background

Our new pool!

Part of the view from our house

Shopping Malls and Birthday Parties

This weekend we went to "The Mall of Asia"  it is apparrently the 4th biggest shopping mall in the world?!  We got our driver Allan to take us out there - things have definitely picked up since we have had a driver!  Considering Martin walks to and from work - I have the driver at my disposal most of the day.  The only problem is I spend half the day sitting in traffic - I have now learnt to take my book with me - just read "Breath" by Tim Winton - great - and bizarre to escape to the surf of Western Australia when I am sitting in a traffic jam in the concrete jungle!


We had a great time at the mall - the boys went to kids universe - poor Martin offered to stay with them - while I got an hour of free shopping time - found a great uk dress shop Dorothy perkins!


After that we went straight to a 4 year olds birthday party in Fort Bonificacio.  We were completely unprepared for the occasion!  We didn't know that birthday parties are very important in the Phillipines and that they go full on!  It was like a wedding!  Waiters serving the adults food - a bar - and for the kids - a frozen yogurt vendor, hot chip vender, hamburgers and lots of organised activities with prizes, they had a ventriliquist and a funny rectangle man - must be a well known cartoon figure over here.


All the kids had their own yaya's following them around wiping their hands getting their food etc.  While the adults sat in the fine dining section eating, drinking and socialising!  All the mothers were dressed in high heels and pearls - while the yaya's were in sandles, pants and t shirts.  I looked like one of the yaya's in my birkenstocks running after William and Charlie with my packet of wipes.  While Martin looked like he was a wildlife photographer in his birkenstocks, army shorts and unshaven beard!!  It was quite hilarious to see the contrast!  I hope our $15 transformer present is not going to look really out of place as well!  The boys came home laden with prizes and gift bags and William said it was the best party he has ever seen in the world!?  He lost his 3rd tooth there! We have been invited to another one in 2 weeks time - better go and buy some heels!


We had one day of sunshine this week - and everything seemed so much brighter!  Looking forward to seeing less rain.

Eating $2 Pork skewers and rice at Market Market

Trying to get good coffee at Starbucks notice armed guard in background

Boys already sick of shopping - what's wrong with them?

Jeepney driver's always hold cash in their hand

Wildlife photographer holding sleeping party boy

Part of party activities

Mothers at the party - our very gracious host in foreground

William loves parties!

Charlie trying out the frozen yogurt