Francesca in France

Today, the accountant of my Boss send him the total amount to pay for my salary in working in the villa.

Ganito ang fax:

20 hours
Saturday 10 hours 6.67 euros/hour = 66.70
Sunday 10 hours with 25% (kasi sunday work) 8.36 euros = 83.60

Total 150.30 euros.(x nyo na lang sa 65 pesos)

Bigay ni Sir, this morning ang pera sama na itong fax ng accountant niya na taga Nice. (Ipalaminate ko for posterity ) Sobrang asar ko...

Gulat ang beauty koh! Ano, 6 euros lang ako!

Umalis si Sir, nag gala ng aso. Pakita ko kay Butler, nabweset for me. If the Boss paid a cleaning agency, 3000 euros lahat yong villa kasi they charge by the square meter sa bill.

Ako, 6euros!Sino matuwa?! Sige kaka kus kos doon, ganon lang????!!!

Hindi ako kumibo nong natanggap ko, okey okey lang Sir,sa loob loob ko, but, accountant mo na maglinis don this Sunday, lets see if he take the job and the pay , because I dont ! Ano akala nila sa akin, street cleaner????? Ganong presyo?

So decided ang Lola, leave the work, pahinga na this Sunday. Pero hindi ko pa sinabi kay Sir. If he tell me : "here is the key for the villa ..." depende sa mood ko ang sagot, i post ko dito later. I will not do tragic things, but I will tell him the way I told off people I dont like treating me. (taas kilay koh...)

Meanwhile, paasar ni Butler: "I give you new extra work, my studio, 6 euros / hour."
Sinabayan ng tawa ng buang !

Bweseeet !

I have been in France for 6 years. I ve met a lot, some true ,some have hidden agendas, some are snakes. But I keep those who are for me and run away from those who are not.And I never regret losing them. There are still some coming. And going ! LOL
At times I asked my self, do I really need one? Or two? Or more?

What is really a friend ba?

In Monaco and France I dont have much. I got fed up with them. Why?
They would pour out their personal problems to me, then I would tell them what to do, they accused me of minding their own affairs. Olaaaahh!
Or they dont like me because I turned them down for asking loans! LOL. Their friendship with me is based on money... (eyes rolling)Ano, bulsa ko, bulsa nila? Tama ba sila?
(If it is like that I buzzed off, ciao, au revoir, paalam, have a nice day, sayonara.)

Prefer to go to my pc, annoy a bit some asawa posters,ha ha ha laugh about the butler's nothings, talk to kids in Phils,have a nice meal, go to bed ,have a book,sleep and wake up the next day to go to work, life is simplier.
(I find it,that the more friends you have,the more trouble you get into with them.)
I got a few as my friends,thats enough. I dont need to be surrounded with silly ones.LOL


With the friends I got, they come and go.(meng in japan, three years, atty jeanie, since 2003,Leah in antipolo, (huh )15 years na!, french lady Diane, 5years,) We all still communicating one another from time to time.

I dont hold much of them because I respect their privacy. With Pinay friend, we are not with each others' neck everyday. We have that mutual understanding. If she is free, she calls, if I am free, I call. If we cant meet for some reasons, we dont fight over it. After a week or (a month sometimes he he )we have coffee/tea or lunch again and have a good laugh. We try to annoy one another at times , or sometimes encourage one another too.If she wants to vent, she knows my phone number.

"There exists friends disposed to break one another to pieces, but there exists also friends sticking closer than a brother "

And you? Do you have/keep many friends? How is that?

Ka ka tsika ng istorya "the umbrella" ayan, kaora orada, talo ang Lola!
I gave the hours that I work in Beaulieu villa of my Boss this morning. 20 hours!
He said he will pay me when the accountant compute how much.
Ngiiih!
I thought he will pay me 15 euros/hour, undocumented as it is a work by the side.
No.
If it is done by his Comptable (accountant) means it is 10 euros as my contract fee regular, plus declaration (4.6%) then deducted by tax, whats left?????!!!!
Talo !
I will give the work to someone else if it is like that!Hu hu hu! (galit!)
Unless he will give me a bit extra, I stay.
The work there is too much, four apartments huge and so filthy as it was cleaned last summmer pa! The mop is soo black after one go in the floor!
Kakapagod!

I was worn out yesterday. Michel helped me but complaining to the max that it is hard work, that he is willing to pay me the amount as long as I refuse to accept this Villa work.Pahinga na lang daw ako sa bahay, or massage him, he will pay me double.

Of course!

Anyway, I accepted these work extra , because when I was there, the apartments are all nice and organized, also I thought I can have good money, good to spend to holidays in Phils. Hindi pala!Super dumi, maalikabok, pati baso and plato, kutsara sa kitchen , got o dishwash as they are all muddy with dusts seems 1945 pa hindi nalinis sa dumi!
Mali ako to accept the work! Argggghhh ! Sana cleaning agency na lang na hire nila to clean it !

Anyway, we went to the beach after the work so here they are,our pictures , para lumigaya ang buhay ni Lolo nyo, or else baka i divorce ako, what will happen for my future nationality Française? Got to stick with him like a glue , you know.

We went to the beach nearby after the hard work...


Michel as we will go down the beach in St Jean Cap Ferrat.The background down is the restaurant Paloma Beach.They got icecream, sanwhiches, lunch and alcohol.
He was discussing to an English speaking tourist that the stairs to go down is a hard 20 steps, long to go up and down for an old man of 70. hehe

me, ready to dive to the water down below as I was filthy and sticky due to the long ten hours of work! Good the beach is just 5 mins away, after work we drop by here.

And the Paloma beach down below. The water is refreshing, dami tao until 7 pm meron pa rin, eventually, 5pm , I was hungry, I asked Michel some coins if he has to buy a sandwich in the resto nearby. He said "I dont have it, if you like, i go to the car". To go to the car he had to do Twenty steps up. I decided to swim (in my bathing suit of course, not in my pajama noh!) suffer the calling of my parasites groaning inside my stomach: "we are hungry! do something!". I ignore them. Eventually I read my book Long swim and ignorings, my brain do not capture what I am reading because the hunger is getting intense.
I complained to Michel: I eat only salad, this lunch time ! And it is like a juice, I worked five hours, I am hungryyyy! Hu hu hu!

Sarap sa Cote d'Azur, pag mainit, hala dive sa beach, libre naman eh.

(clippings ito na pinadala ng kaibigan ko from Japan, Ty to Meng!)

'Pinoys in Paris'
Itinanghal ng The CORRESPONDENTS,
Lunes, 11:30 p.m.


PARIS – Sa unang tingin ay mapagkakamalang doña si Angie Lucas. Pero kung tutuusin, kung nasa Hong Kong siya ay domestic helper ang kategorya ni Lucas.

“Ang mga employer ko ay English-speaking. Ako ay house manager at kung sa atin, mayordoma iyon,” aniya.

Kaibang uri ng mayordoma si Angie
Hindi karaniwang mayordoma si Lucas. Aniya, “Kasi ako 'yung palaging iniiwan ng may-ari ng bahay at mayroon din akong mga katulong na siyang gumagawa ng trabaho.”


Kung titingnan nga, hindi mayordoma si Lucas dahil mistulang doña rin siya sa dami ng suot na mga alahas sa katawan.

(Bof, hindi kesyo maalahas ang isang tao, mayaman na...)

Una siyang dumating sa Paris noong 1979 at nag-aral agad ng wikang Pranses.

Pero ngayon, nagtatrabaho siya at naninirahan sa isa sa pinakamahal na lugar sa Paris.

May sariling pinto si Lucas sa gusali na tinitirhan din ng kanyang mga among aristokrata.

Tatlo ang “tauhan” ni Lucas. Dalawa sa kanila ay mga Portuguese habang ang isa ay Pilipino.

Sa kanyang tinitirhan, tanaw na tanaw ni Lucas ang Eiffel Tower at mapalad siya dahil kung tutuusin ay nakopo niya ang isa sa pinakamagandang tanawin sa Paris.


Sa 13 taon na paninilbihan niya sa mag-asawa, napatunayan ni Lucas na pinagtitiwalaan siya ng dalawa.

Kaya sinusuklian ni Lucas ang kabutihan ng mga amo sa kapwa niya mga Pilipino.


Dalawa’t kalahating taon nang nagtatrabaho si Anganay kasama si Lucas.

Kumpara sa ibang domestic helper, malaki ang kinikita ni Anganay. Sa isang oras, mayroon siyang 10 euro o 80 euro sa isang araw na pagtatrabaho.

Sa isang buwan, umaabot siya ng 1,200 euro o katumbas ng P100,000.

Samantala, si Lucas ay mayroong 2,100 euro na sweldo kada buwan o katumbas ng P200,000.
(hmmn, not bad, not bad.)

Pero sa kabila ng malaking kinikita, bukas ang mga mata ni Lucas sa realidad ng pagiging Pilipino sa Pransya.

“Ang Pinoy kahit ipinanganak dito ay hindi maaaring ilagay sa pinakamataas na posisyon dahil hindi naging kolonya ng Pransya ang Pilipinas. Kaya, hanggang doon lang tayo sa ibaba,” aniya.

(hindi totoo yan. Ang France pwede mag hire sa iyo kung deserving ka.May isang pilipino nars sa Nice, tanggap, basta pasado sa civil service nila and speaks french, ano siya?)

(Komento ko sa trabaho ni Angie. She is a mayordoma but, she is not a just just!
And she works for the rich. If she works with someone (not that rich), then she doenst have a carrer.
To work with millionaires, even a house employee is big responsibility. Olaaaahhh !
Kasi they have a life different from average.

If one is not professional, like Angie, her salary (200,000 pesos) a month, she dont deserve it.)Only those who knows how to work quality deserves that salary.

I was discussing with Sha's husband ,Mark during one of our beer sprees.
In the boat, the owner who is soo rich would hired Ukranians. Mama mia! They dont even know how to set a table,or had seen a golden fork, these lots! what more to work in a charter boat (very classic ) which the rent is 190,000 euros a week. I will not work with people who are not experienced. Agreed by Sha and Mark, it will be all our work, as these people needs training...
And the salary are all the same???? Nah...

Pero totoo yang sweldo ni Angie.
In 5 months, one million pesos! Wow !

I am very happy of the decisions made by my readers on the umbrella story.
The umbrella is an illustration of how we decides in a situation.
We do or we dont.
Here are the decisions of my readers that I summarize. I find them very good and really well weighed(or some didnt even weighed it, they know what to do instantly.)

Talhey said: I would go back for it, and take it.
Anonymous said: I will take it ,besides , its not mine.
Debbie wanted to weigh the cost , the time and the risks.
Jing would take it as she prioritize the importance of ownership of the umbrella.
Funky Momma would take it quick, or else she would regret herself for not doing it, maybe in her life( like I should have done it, damn!)
Analyse like Debbie, look at the posibilities of the options if she (the lady will go down to get the umbrella.)
Kuiipo mentioned the trust. She is not bothered the long wait for next train.

Okey, good answers. Meaning, my readers are all witty! Felicitations!

Lets take the umbrella as a decision in life.

A filipina is married in Philippines. She got a boyfriend in Monaco , happened to be married also to a rich wife ,a resident of Monaco. The husband is also but so so only in compare to the wife.The couple has been married for 20 years.No children, the wife is 65, the husband is 45.
The filipina , 45 is Five years married,in Phils , got 4 children AGE 20, 19, 18 and 9 (3 girls, and a boy). The filipino husband(who is in Phils) is not working.Palamon ni Filipina. Five years seperated,(3days after they got married she went to France,they were live in before) no see each other, as filipina cannot go home, the husband is from time to time goes with other women but no illegitimate child.

I suggest to her to take an annulment.It avoids her to commit adultery .
She said,my bf is married, he cant file divorce ,the wife is old, he cant leave her.
Whats the use of the annulment?
Still take an annulment, One day, you'll never know in one second he is free. When he is free, then you file the annulment, the time you file, it took a year to be granted, if lucky.
I suggest this(annulment) to have her bf move also. If they really want to be together, they should plan something, shouldnt they? Whats the bf doing with her?
( just asking...)

No, the filipina do not want to. She didnt take the umbrella.She stayed nicely to the train (her bf). As bahala na.

Did she decides the best?

Once again, here are your answers to the story of umbrella.

Talhey said: I would go back for it, and take it.
Anonymous said: I will take it ,besides , its not mine.
Debbie wanted to weigh the cost , the time and the risks.
Jing would take it as she prioritize the importance of ownership of the umbrella.
Funky Momma would take it quick, or else she would regret herself for not doing it, maybe in her life( like I should have done it, damn!)
Analyse like Debbie, look at the posibilities of the options if she (the lady will go down to get the umbrella.)
Kuiipo mentioned the trust. She is not bothered the long wait for next train.

Once again, I appreciate your posts, it is very interesting to know I have wonderful readers.
what could we advice to a situation like this. Is there anything best so far for her?

Dear Fans,

I would like your comments after reading the story of this umbrella.

A lady left an umbrella at the seat in the train station.
The train arrived, she went in, took her seat, lots of passengers,Olaaah, when she realised she forgot it in the waiting area of the train station.
She asked me what to do?

I am asking you now, my readers ,what she should do?
1.Will she go down and pick it up? What if the train starts to move?
2.Will she just leave it like that, bahala na?
(But the umbrella is not hers, its her employers' she borrowed yesterday.
And it was raining outside.)

She didnt move to go down the train.She decided like that.
The train didnt move to go.
She is still undecided, (to go down or not,) as she still saw the umbrella in the seat where she left it waiting to be picked up.
Eventually she decides not to picked it up.Settled nicely in her seat. But she is grunting...LOL

At last the train moves after 20 minutes. LOL

If you were her, will you do the same?
Leave the umbrella?

Today I met Sha We picked her up at the airport and she is staying in our house. We went to the park, sleep a bit, roam around monaco and met Pinay to have dinner in Menton at the beach area, near the border of Italy.We had a good time, went home at 11pm! (Shocked!)Lots of blah blah blah , drinks and of course food, glorious food!



Sha in Cafe de Paris, Monaco, Montecarlo. She enjoyed watching the world go by, with ladies in their skimpy fashion dress, heels, and hairdos, men in their tuxedu and fancy cars, some tourists that wants to capture it all...



We went to Menton and Sha was surprised in the restaurant near the beach, the food is not expensive. I post our orders, see for your self if thats reasonable.
Our orders: Moules et Frites (Mussels and french fries) 9euros/order,Sha : Salad Niçoise 10 euros, Vegetarian Pizza 9euros. With beer and frizzy water and coca and coffee and tea, total bill is 52.70 includes tax for the legal crooks (govt).



Michel gave Pinay only one piece of mussels! Ang tawa namin!

in the park at the top of the mountains fater our loong nap, as the weather is cool at the top but hot down the mountains.




michel and sha, michel is praying: Oh no pls,
Sha: Dont worry my husband is very understandable!
Michel: I know, but my wife is not!

We went to the park, read magazines or books under the shades, have lunch or coffee after in the restaurant in the beach, and have a walk window shopping, as shops are close on sundays.


michel and myself with the glorious food ! Sarap !

in the park at the top of the mountain, as Sha, so sneaky ! took our pictures in our un guarded moments,me reading the Michael Jackson trial, Michel ponders over the UK Holiday trips offers in "Daily Mail" that Sha brought us.

at the beach restaurant, thats with Sha and Pinay.We are discussing the story of the umbrella in connections with how we decided in our life.


looking at jewelries, hmmm, will he spend for that jewelry? Guess?

No .
he said, "good the shop is close!" (And leave me at that!)
Me: "Oy saan ka punta, bili mo ko nito! Ha ha ha!"
Hindi mauto si Lolo nyo.

And you? how you spend day offs with hubby?

I am supposed to go to bed early, because after the swim in the beach, I am worn out.
But cant get out of pc until I tell you this.

Butler, since Friday is annoyed. He had to clean 3 cars as he doesnt know what the Boss will be using to go to golf on Saturday. (The Bentley, Aston Martin or the Mercedes.)
Only, hehe.

His dilemnas are:
Thursday, he brought me to show the apartments, he lost one hour to do his work.
Friday , Boss said he will bring him to the shop to buy some vegetables.
That would be another hour.

Of course, he cant refuse, poor thing.
Another one hour lost.
He feels he is wasting his time.And that's what he is complaining, a waste of his time.

hehe.

At the shop, (as Butler told me), he wanted to kick the bottom of the Boss, as the Boss is sooo slow in picking the vegetables,Boss took one by one, look if it is fresh, select the good ones, it is nearly mid day! Butler is groaning:The three cars, oh please, it needs to be clean...

When they reach to the vegetables, he said to Boss, maybe we can take the courgettes (patola in tagalog, forgot in english, sorry, girls.)

The boss said, not today, we'll take string beans.

The more Butler gets annoyed.Sir, no string beans... he said to the Boss.
(Actually, there is, but he blocked his body ala patintero so that Boss will not see it.)LOL

Why?
Because Butler will have to cut the string beans one by one and will cook it! Today! LOL

( Bof, hindi nakakatawa.)Corny is nt it?

Today my Madame had her slimming massage treatment in her room . I was preparing her lunch.
After an hour, she went outof her bed, she said, pls prepare me the table, with only one chicken leg to eat.
I put one.
A minute passed, she said, can I have another one leg (of chicken)please?

I told her off: No more chicken! Besides you are on diet!

(Opps,)

(I thought I am talking to Michel.)

Why we all have to work!
Its annoying if there are days, I dont feel like working.
Menopausal period is eating me up! (shhh, secret...)

Then this offer to work...

Today my morning Boss,(one with Butler) asked me if I got extra time, he needs someone to clean the 4 aparmtents in Beaulieu, 30 mins by car from Monaco and between Monaco- Nice.
I said, I work monday to saturday, so sunday only if he wants!

That 4 apartments are for rent. Summer is hectic! Lots of rentors coming.
He wants me to take care of it.
I was thinking to refuse it, but when he said: You clean there when you want , not exactly the time like here in Monaco.So come Sunday as you wish.
Hmmn, not bad, I dont mind Michel will scream: What?! You think you are a superwoman!

eneweyzzz...go back to topic...

This is the look of the villa, from the brochure as this villa is for rent.


the villa i will take care of. 


Inside and out 


the rooms!  


with veranda overlooking the sea. 



studio for us !. 

I did one apartment today, took me five hours! very elegant so I have to be very careful on my work.After work, I call Michel to pick me up, we went to the beach and swim (langoy langoy) for thirty minutes. Fresh ang lola after work!

My son, he is 16, is graduating this year in high school, Philippines)


Soon to come to France to annoy Mama!

I asked him what he plan to be when he goes to university?
He said, he wants to be a nurse, then take masters to be a doctor.
I said, thats too ambitious! I cant afford that for your schooling, especially university in France!
He said, he can continue to study in Philippines, he dont need to go to France.
Of course, I said. You dont want to leave your friends, you prefer them than life in France.
And Mama.
Especially.Mama is not important...( me goes to dramatic crying, hehe)

He said, maybe there are free universities in France for his desired course.(Okey he is willing to compromise, nice son... eh?)

I said: Why be a doctor?! Why not an OB Gynocologist, it is more interesting, you can watch bottoms anytime.

He looked at me like "I came from the outer space...

Okey, I am joking to my son, but he is serious about going to Medicine!
How much it cost me! waaahhh!
I even discussed with him, he will be buying a dead body to examine!
He didnt bother, just shrugged!
I like him to be an engineer. But, he is the one studying not me.

Mind you, when here, he might change mind.
He might scrub floors like Mama, easy responsibility, easy money...
Isnt it? He he...

You, whats the goal of your kids when grow up?

The sea road between Cagnes sur Mer and the Hippodrome will be closed between 8 pm and 6 am every day until Thursday. Works to finish the Promenade are taking place, which have been going on for 8 months. The new Hippodrome
Promenade area will be inaugurated on Saturday 25 June. Cagnes Sur Mer is another beach area in Cote d'Azur.
Here's the pictures taken by your lola last Sunday.



Hippodrome de la Cote d ' Azur. Where horses are racing for bets.Near the Cagnes sur Mer beach. 


Another angle of the Hippodrome. The train to Paris is passing by there also. Airport of Nice is as far as ten minutes by car. 


Hippodrome Promenade , Cagnes Sur mer. Its beautiful now here. Before it is like an old city, now they put walkways for people to bike, walk, children can run without the traffic disturbing them. Picture taken yesterday 


another picture of Hippodrome Promenade going to the building of Baie des Anges Marina. 

I , your grandma, is bored to create new topics.
I lost my humour, my mind do not have the cliche.
Must be because I want only to go to holidays, instead of going to work...
Michel is always home late...7pm instead of 4pm!
Monaco Govt is offering him half his salary, he can retire, sit tight in front of the tube doing nothing. No way.
We both dont want to. He will get age quickly.Get bored, annoyed if I have to wake up to get ready to work...and I will get home late...
We dont know what we want in life. We almost got everything, but we are still complaining...Normal !
So what to put in my blog?

Rien. (Nothing)

In my afternoon work, at times I go home early. My Monsiuer is away for two weeks!
It means, less things to do!
Instead of three bathrooms, only two.Instead of set the table for three, only two.
Instead of washing/ironing clothes for three, only two.
I end up working only two!
Two hours! Super delicious!
I go home at 3pm, instead of 6pm!

After two weeks, he arrived! Grrrrrrr!
I was in the kitchen, preparing the vegetables for the evening, I say hello, welcome back, etc etc.

Me: Sir, its been two weeks, you must have good money bringing home!(thinking he went for business)
Sir: Oh no, I dont need money. I went for the car race!
Ngiiih!
Later:
Me: Sir, we missed you playing the piano, we dont have any music since you are away!
Sir: I was just practicing! I am not playing!
Ngiiihhhh!
Again!
Me: Sir, the only one that misses you here in this house is: Chico the cat!
Sir: I know. My wife and daughter are happy I was away!
Me:(he he)

I went home, discuss with Michel, he said:

What! He chat with you in his house???!!!
Everyone wants to take my wife!
jealing si Lolo nyo!

When going home in Nice today ,raining hard, I took a bus, and the bus was late ,two trips, didnt arrived, and the passengers, doubled, tripled.
When one bus arrived, they all want to get in! One man, a big mouther,screamed: "I am a handicapped, leave me the space, I am coming..."
We are sardines inside, and here he comes, a big boots with his stick waving everyone to step aside!
Of course all passengers are screaming back!(French rights, you got no right to scream at me, but I can to you!) He noticed one lady, screamed at her : b--ch! Whoa! The more the passengers screamed at him back! We are like turkey fowls inside (takol-takol-takol!)One passenger gave him a seat and he id still screaming, then the takol-takol-takol noise starts again!
The bus driver is annoyed, screamed at the man with a stick, the man screamed back, and the takol -takol -takol noise starts again!
The traffic didnt help at all. Outside the bus it was pelting down with rain.Olaaah, heavy, ala Noah's day!
Then the control people went inside the bus. They are checking tickets if validated or not. Two ladies were caught. They were fined of 32 euros each! Stiff eh?
The screaming man, no validation! Buti nga!(He must have forgotten to validate his bus card bec of the screaming). He didnt want to go down the bus for holding him. The bus dont want to go, unless he goes down. He doesnt want to go down. Eventually the control people called the Police via radio. took us 30 minutes in bus stop before he goes down with the Police.One hour and half trip from train station to home. Usually took only 20 minutes.

When arrived home, the rain is still crazy ala moonson rain in Phils.
Reminds me of the music of Fleetwood Mac: "Thunder happens only when its raining..."

Got this email from my co asawa forum member:
"I suggest when you go visit davao you should stay at the Marco Polo Hotel. They have nice facilities and it is not far from the malls and just about 30 minutes away from the airport.
Regarding about the beaches, don't go there at the Waterfront Insular Hotel coz its not as clean as before when they opened the resort. Try Paradise Island or Pearl Farm Beach Resort. Both resorts have private bungalows and at a very affordable price
Cebu Pacific airlines is great. They have the reputation to be on time and sometimes 10 minutes ahead of schedule unlike PAL which is known to be late all the time.
Have fun on your upcoming vacation to Davao! "

Today I made some internet inquiries, here are what they offer:
HOTEL/FLIGHT /BFAST (3days/2 nights, waterfront insular,hotel, cebu pacific roundtrip manila-davao-manila (315 euros for two persons)

Marco Polo Hotel: 61euros/night with pick up at airport
Pearl Farm : 66 euros/night transfers 56Euros for two passengers, bfast 30 euros
Cebu Pacific: 348 euros ,round trip, manila-davao-manila
561 euros total

Michel likes to stay in a superferryboat(WGA). He enjoyed our stateroom accomodation,(when we went to Cebu last April 2004,) but manila -davao boat trip will took us at least 2 days in the sea, one way. We got only two weeks stay in Phils! How about time with kids!!!

Is Waterfront Insular not that good anymore? They seems to offer a reasonable price worth taking hehe.
Anybody from Davao pls?

Butler told me what he did yesterday when I was off at 1pm.
We have a neighbor, who is always a frequent visitor of Poubelle in Monaco.
Poubelle(trash in french) is an area where people throw stuffs they dont want anymore.
It sometimes be: a tv, radio, sofa, bed, chairs, carpet, old clothes, shoes etc etc.
Butler is annoyed because these neighbor always carry stuffs in his garage and would dirty the garage way.
Yesterday, Butler put an expired box of milk near the door of our neighbor.
Butler watched it discreetly. When the neighbor went out, saw the box of milk, took it inside. Butler's news of the day to me: "He drank the old milk!"I saw it, he took it!
Makes Butler's day great!( And I didnt laugh at all...)
I spoiled Butlers' fun, bleeehh.

Last May 22, 2005, Grand Prix of Monaco, Butler , at 11am, visited the house of our Boss.He should not, as he is not scheduled to visit, he is on holiday until I come back.He unlock the alarm, get in, (dont know what he did,as he didnt tell me)
He told me today : that Sunday, the security people arrived at 2pm, leave a report to the Boss on the table, that nothing had been stolen, the house is alright etc etc.
Butler was surprised, why they came?
I told him, "you are silly, you should not come in the house, put off and on the alarm system when its not your duty day to do so.The alarm system, when punch the code, it is connected to our Boss Cellphone!The Boss must have called the security people to visit the house!Now, good the Boss didnt asked you about it when he arrived last Friday, why you enter the house on a Sunday...
Butler got a red face. lol

While doing his window cleaning, he wants to get at me.He told me to be very careful that the Boss not complaining about my work, as he the Boss would sack employees when he wants. Butler even gave me examples of past employees here in the house. A gardener, a black guy, a filipino, then the Portuguese.I sensed it, Butler wants to scare me.BWEHEHEHE!
I told him: "Are you afraid you are next?(with my devilish grin hehehe)
(Girls, Butler got some guilty conscience bothered, hehehe.Butler is disturb of the alarm system that he did last Sunday May 22. I wonder if there are other dates? Why would he asked me about the sacking of employees, LOL LOL LOL

Thats all for the moment. See you next posts!

Start from Nice Airport:
Easy jet personnel and me as I checked in.With Michel,at the background of course.
EasyJet Personnel: You dont have a booking for today, Mme.
Me: Ah no? Wait, I got my confirmed date from internet.(I searched my bag, give the printcopy to her.)
EP: Ah, okey, I found it, its because, your passport is single in first page.
Michel: Eh,oui, Mademoiselle, she happened to marry a Frenchman.
EP: Sorry, I didnt look, Sir.
Michel: And she dont have a visa to London, you can check too.
(Naalarma tuloy ang ale!)She looked long in pages of my passport!
Pati sa scan ng luggage , buntot si Michel.
Sabi sa nag frisked sa akin, kasi tumunog:
yong denture niya, gold, kaya tumunog!
I told Michel: Go away! LOL
Natatawa ang girl.
~~~~
Arriving in London, after picking my luggage, I have to pass the Immigration:
Immig: Where is your husband?
Me: At work.
Immig: You should not travel alone.
Me: (Gusto kong mag react, bakit? I am not under 18 years old huh!)"Sorry, Sir, But he is joining me on Saturday.
Immig: Purpose of travel?
Me: Pleasure, to run away from noise of Grand Prix in Monaco.
Immig: (he,didnt get it..) "How many days you will stay in London?"
Me: Four days, back on Tuesday.
He stamped date of arrival on my (UK VIsa) passport page.
Whew! Akala ko hindi ako lusot, sumbong ko siya sa Queen!Aba, nag pa manicure pa naman akoh!
Sabi ng sister ko, basta visa mo okey, routine lang yan nila sa mga first timers.
~~~~~
Leaving Gatwick Airport:5 am, Going back to Nice,I passed again the Easy Jet personnel.
EP: Can I have your passport please?
Me: (handling it to her)Please check booking on my married name.
(She didnt bother. Okey, be like that...thumping my fingers in the counter)
EP: You dont have a flight booked today.
Me: (Roll my eyes), Please look on second page of my passport.
EP: "Ah, okey", (she type my married name)
Took long! She 's looking rigidly on the pages of my passport !
EP: Your visa is expired, you can't go to Nice.
ME: Yes, I know,last December 29. But I am a resident of France.
EP: Where is it here in your passport?
(I took it from her, showed her, a page which indicates: "Titre de Sejour")
She was not convinced! She showed it to the girl next to her saying: "Is this the resident card of France?"
The girl said : "Yes."
Mama mia, katagal ko, akala ng kasunod ko eh, "wala na pagasa itong isang ito, another refugee." Guapo pa na man!
Later:
EP: Did you pack your own luggage?(she sticks NCE in the luggage handle)
Me: Yes
EP: No one touched it sinced you packed it?
Me: No.
EP: Boarding time is 5:15, gate 35, have a nice flight with Easy Jet.
Girls, Kakainis kung ikaw ay isang green passport holder(Philippines), tingin agad sa iyo, "ligaw na bala ito ha, ma tutukan!"
Sanay sila sa red/maroon colored passport (EU).Grrr.
Then I got to run, stop, look, kung saan yon gate 35, napakadulo!
Its 5 mins before closing of boarding time.

I'm beginning to hate airports ...

When arrived in Nice, we have to fall in line as Northwest Airlines from USA arrived , full of American tourists, holding Dark Blue Passports.I have to be within their line as we are in "Non EU passport holder". Then I remember, it is Cannes Film Festival, no wonder they are here!
When it is my turn, I hand my passport, the French Immigration looked into my Titre de Sejour (resident card) stamped entry and he give me back my passport and said, au revoir.
No sweat.
I took my luggages, went out, to take a bus to Nice Center, which cost me 4euros.I was with all other tourists inside the bus,which now full of luggages. If I take a taxi, 40 euros easy to home. No, I am careful.
When arrived at Massena Park, I took the line 18 going down our apartment, using my monthly prepaid bus card.
Saves a lot when we know how to go about.
Meanwhile, Michel was still at work at that time.
He just ring me, if I am back, and when at home, i read the message in the kitchen board:
Welcome home, darling!

Nice to be back home.
Not nice to unpack luggages.And to think, back to work! arrgh!

Another chopping off of my pictures in London Trip.
Hope you dont get annoyed, this is part 3.
Not important, but what can I do?
Unless I dont fix this, I cant concentrate on my next topic. Hehe...


Millennium Knightsbridge Hotel. A place to stay when in London. Why we end up here in this hotel when we have a booking at Ibis Gatwick? Because, mga sisters, doesnt want us to be isolated in Gatwick, as no life there. So they end up counting the last drop of their money and pay the room! LOL Ayan gumastos tuloy sila. Treat daw kay Michel as wedding gift, hehe. Surprised ang Lolo nyo, when I call him I will not pick him at Gatwick Airport but will see him at London Center as I cancelled na the Ibis Gatwick Hotel. Kala sa kalsada na lang kami matulog, or sa St.James Park, sama ang mga squirrels! Natuwa naman si Michel and at the last goodbye, he realised, na kapamilya na pala niya mga sisters ko! Comedy ang dating, ingay ingay namin sa room ng hotel halos lahat kami, kasi tuloy ang non stop na tsikahan, kinatok na kami ng kapit kuarto. Siguro, french yon? Hula nyo? 


English Breakfast: Bacon, eggs, tomatoes,sausages and mushrooms.
Accompanied by Croissants, Buttered toasted bread with 3 small bottles of different marmalade(strawberry, orange ketchup),freshly squezzed orange juice, brewed coffee and cream.
When asked by the front desk, what breakfast we would like to have in our room, continental or english, sabay pa kami sagot: English breakfast!
Nasa England kami, why not take English ?
Nasira lang ang presentation ng plate dish, kasi later ko na naalala to take picture, how the english eat breakfast. Cute sila, nakakataba lng ng meal, di gaya sa France, isang croissant, orange juice and coffee lang, solve na Bfast. 


Picture ni Lola Francesca in the hotel. Taken morning na, as we are off to Piccadilly Circus and the restof tourist places.Pa cute kuno, hehe.Millineum Knightsbridge Hotel is in the area of signature shops, at Sloane Street, nearby Harrods. 


Michel in Millinneum Knightsbridge Hotel(parang commercial na ito ah!).Whats funny is we cant find the hair dryer, and Michel brought his, but do not go with the plug! Eventually, when our hair was dried( by manual use of towels), we found the hairdryer at the table drawer where he sits.Ang tawa namin, because in some hotels (in France) the hair dryer is in the bathroom. Must be because of the accidents of dryers dropped in the sink of water, so they put it in the salon. Whew, the hotel price per night, costly... But brother in law joined the paying of the bills and offered it to us free. We gave him French wine, 4 bottles, he returned it with a night in hotel and with bar drinks and English breakfast all for free. Well acommodated ang Lolo sa Hotel. Kung maari lang hindi na babalik ng Sunday night to France ! Kasi Lola is still staying until Tuesday...Bwehehehehe...

 


Picture at The House of Parliament,with Big Ben Clock, near the river Thames. At first, I was annoyed with Michel as I saw the Big Ben I wanted a picture asap. He said, no, we walk further. Then we passed by the half of the Parliament House I told him: I want my photo here! He said No, later. Until we reached this area, and voila, a good (but not quite )shot. In 15minutes, the sky gets dark, we got to move quick to Downing street where Blair works, but the gate is heavily guarded,I would like to borrow an umbrella from Blair, Ha ha ha.
On the whole I find the Brits very polite. If in France, and one do not know where to go, the french would say, "je sais pas"( dont know!)Especially in Paris, masungit sila doon. But in London, they try to help. But the royalty and snobbisms is present also in London. Things to buy are expensive, but if one is careful, one would not feel it. I just choose what I like and need, so that I will not suffer much, ehehe. Different people, different culture 

Had posted this before. Since my tagboard and profile goes down, maybe its because I post very long in my topic trip to London.

This is the part 2.

Sorry if you have to bear with it again!He he!

EARL'S COURT

EARLS COURT at next road, sister analisa lives. If I am not mistaken, this is a theater and some exhibits also going on.  


London Center, Earl's Court Station. Nakakabaliw ang in and out ng tube sa underground. Three days hindi ko rin na kasanayan. It is a bit sunny that time, after 30 minutes, rain starts to pour, so we didnt go to LADBROOK where Carboot sales is going on. There they sell what ever you fancy, for 1pound or even less, Parang bargain sales ala divisoria.Dami asiatics as usual. Full of them.  

China town.


China town, lots of chinese restaurant, eat all you can for 5 pounds, 20 menus to choose! Taba na naman ang Lola nyo, katakaw ko, kasi sina Sisters, ganon din, kaya napa gaya. Mind you, mas masarap ang Peking duck sa Four Seasons restaurant, worth waiting, kahit one hour na kami nakakuha ng seats. 

THE BRITISH MUSEUM, a must see when in London


British Museum at russel square 


Children on tour inside the museum 


Will you have the time to read all thses books inside the Museum? hehe 


African exhibits: the living ang dying, revealing the african beliefs where the people goes after they die.  


Roman exhibits, where you can find marvelous sculptures and archaelogy findings. 


African arts of Pots.Alot of designs to choose and one can have an idea for the house.Really beautiful arts, must be very pricey, whew!  


Me, inside the train.

Inside the British Museum, there was a 3D film showing the Mummy, for 6pounds, but i didnt go in, as I am more intrested in the exhibits. Entrance is free to all, but one can drop 3 pounds/4euros/5 dollars,to donate to make the Museum free entrance (or keep the museum going).
There was also an exhibits of 4,000 types of pills that helps the patients cope up the pain/sickness, but on the comment read, what makes the person healthy is how the person treats his/her own body. The British Museumis very educational , good for students for term projects/studies. There is a restaurant and fastood inside. I enjoyed the tour, even alone because I can stay and read the comments on each display. I stayed inside till 4 hours!One of the highlights of my trip to UK is this one.

My cellphone rang pa at 1pm, Madame ko! Hinahanap ako! Ngeeh, I told her, "nasa London pa ako, Madame"! She said: "I didnt know you went to London". Sagot ko: "I leave a note , since Wednesday, dont you read?" "Ow," sabi niya, "I didnt". Gusto ko i add" and you didnt pay me yet" but I told her na lang "I will come on Tuesday, thats tom". Okey na lang daw. Kararating lang din nila from holiday bec of running away from Grand prix Monaco. Magagalit siya, I refer her to someone("my dreaded words", if inaasar ng amo, hehe).
Then I went back to HighStreet Kensington, I was lost!Wrong train! I got to go back again, and took the right train/tube.Kakaloka!