The Best Christmas Gift Ever

And we can't ask for anything more!

Kaya naman pala I was feeling so tired and sickly the past couple of weeks.  Since we arrived in Manila, I had no appetite and couldn't eat properly.  I had no clue I was pregnant! And to think I even went for rides while we were in Ocean Park and Disneyland last week. This was such a pleasant surprise!

Blogging took a back seat and this explains everything. I know I owe you our HK kwento, and a few tags, but I promise to do them before the year ends.  Stories are piling up but I will make it up.  Just give me time, dear friends, ok? 

Anyway, it's just a few days to go before Christmas. How's your preps so far?

A Dose of Me Time

Before leaving for our holidays in Manila this coming Friday early morning, I managed to squeeze in some time for myself earlier. I went to the office to pick up my laptop and fixed my desk to see if there's anything important that I missed. I stowed away my notebook and cleared my table, hoping that when I come back next year, it will be not so cluttered from all the mails that will be coming in for me.  

After a quick dash at the 14th floor, I went to the B1 level to make it to my salon appointment at 8:00 am. I had my hair's oil bath and went for a mani-pedi, too. It was all done in an hour so I had breakfast first at Testa Rossa to kill time. I needed to go to the Emirates Towers Boulevard to have my watch adjusted but they won't open 'till 10:00 am. I just took advantage of the moment to read a few magazines and enjoy my breakfast leisurely. At 10 to 10, I made my way across the building.  

The adjustment of my watch didn't take that long - i guess only about 5 minutes. near the exit, I passed by Coach, and decided to check what's new - with no intention of buying anything. But when I saw the silk scarf that was similar to the one I lost recently, I decided to purchase it right there and then. Let's just say it's a souvenir from my first paid gig as a photographer (wow, I'm starting to love the sound of it!).  

Here's the Christmas packaging of Coach, which I love:

And my new (and definitely last) scarf for my black hobo bag:

I swear, I'm really gonna secure it with a pin this time! I bought it for a full price as opposed to the first two scarves I got, which were on sale at 50% off, so this should last me long.  

After that impulse buy, I went home by cab and did some last minute packing. In a little while, I should be preparing dinner for me & the husband. the weather is gloomy today and it's been raining since morning, but I love it! The bed is so enticing I just wanna curl up and read a book 'till iI fall asleep. 

From Strangers to Friends

When we went to Petra last summer, we met a lovely Chinese couple who are of same age as us.  We had dinner altogether after the Petra by night, and chatted away like old chums. We learned that Charles was on a study leave (he's an MBA student at Harvard), and during his break, he decided to tour the middle east with his fiancee Vivian. 

They were ecstatic when they found out Ryan and I were from Dubai! Turns out the next leg of their tour was Dubai. Charles felt doubly excited when I told him I work at the DIFC because apparently, he really did wanna see the centre.  So a week after, we met up and toured them around the district. We had dinner at Noodle House and helped them choose some dates to bring home. We also accompanied them to buy souvenirs and check out some diamond rings for Vivian at the Gold Souk.  

Since then, we've kept in touch. And then the other day, just before our offices closed for the holiday, I received this parcel at work:

When I opened it, this is what I saw:

Goody - a Sex & The City DVD! And an extended cut at that! I was so happy because I haven't seen the movie yet (because it wasn't played here), and I've been dying to get my hands on a clear copy via torrent. I've been tormenting the husband for months now to find me a decent copy, and it looks like he doesn't need to bother anymore.

To Charles & Vivian, thanks again for the gift. You shouldn't have but thank you!  We were quite happy to tour you guys around. and I am touched that you remembered that I really wanted to watch SATC but it wasn't played here, and you made a way for me to see it.  That is really thoughtful of you!

See, I told you being chatty pays well :)