Francesca in France

I just saw in tv that French regroupement familial law changed. As of the news today, to petition family(ies)( wife ,husband, or minor age children), it will be two years process instead of one year as previously done. And all consuls has the authority given by the state to do so.

Ngeeeh.

I passed the petition papers of my two minors last October 5,2005 and I am now waiting. If their petition papers includes in the new law, patay na, two years pa bago they arrive here.

As far as I understand watching the french news(on tv) effective 2006 pa ang new law.

Baka.

Sana.

Sensiya na, hina pa rin french language ko kasi...

Then sa citizenship naman ni Lola as married to a french national, 4years marriage anniversary na , bago pwede apply. Dati 2 years lang, pwede na.

AND ADD THE FRENCH LANGUAGE MUST BE FLUENT... Patay!


Here is the news in french, bahala na kayo umunawa nito...

Dominique de Villepin s'est prononcé mardi pour l'allongement à deux ans, contre un an actuellement, du délai de séjour en France à l'issue duquel "on peut faire une demande de regroupement familial", à l'issue d'un Comité interministériel de contrôle de l'immigration qu'il présidait à Matignon. Le Premier ministre a par ailleurs déclaré qu'il fallait "être en mesure de vérifier le respect de la loi, qui interdit la polygamie dans notre pays". "Le regroupement familial est aujourd'hui la deuxième source d'immigration régulière après le mariage. Il a concerné 25.000 en 2004, un nombre stable depuis plusieurs années", a-t-il dit à la presse à l'issue de la troisième réunion du Cici. "C'est un droit garanti par la Constitution et les conventions internationales: il n'est pas question de le remettre en cause mais de mieux l'organiser pour faciliter l'intégration des personnes concernées, car le regroupement est généralement le point de départ d'une installation durable en France".

Le gouvernement a décidé aussi d'allonger de deux ans le délai de vie commune à l'issue duquel un étranger ayant épousé un Français peut demander la nationalité française. Ce délai devrait passer de deux à quatre ans pour un couple résidant en France, et de trois à cinq ans sinon, selon les mesures arrêtées à l'occasion de ce troisième Cici. "La nationalité doit être le moins possible un droit automatique. Il faut lutter contre la tendance qui ferait du mariage avec un Français quelque chose qui se monnaie", a-t-on souligné dans l'entourage du Premier ministre. Par ailleurs, souligne-t-on également à Matignon, "l'explosion des mariages à l'étranger pose un certain nombre de questions et il s'agit non pas de réduire forcément leur nombre mais de vérifier leur validité, la tentation existant de conclure une union avec un Français dans le but essentiel de venir en France".

Renforcer le contrôle sur les mariages célébrés à l'étranger

Pour lutter contre les mariages blancs, le gouvernement a ainsi décidé de renforcer le contrôle exercé - avant leur célébration - sur les mariages célébrés à l'étranger entre un Français et un étranger, avec une audition préalable devant le consul. Le parquet de Nantes - qui a en charge les actes passés étrangers - bénéficiera d'un renforcement de son pouvoir d'opposition à la transcription sur l'état civil français d'un mariage célébré à l'étranger.
En cas d'avis négatif du procureur, seule une décision judiciaire permettra de valider le mariage. Toutes ces mesures nécessitent une réforme du Code civil et feront l'objet d'un projet de loi préparé par la Chancellerie et présenté en Conseil des ministres "pendant l'hiver" - selon Matignon - pour une adoption par le Parlement d'ici à la fin du premier semestre 2006.

Le gouvernement a dévoilé aussi plusieurs mesures visant à renforcer la sélection des jeunes étrangers venus étudier en France, en privilégiant, à l'instar des pays anglo-saxons, les étudiants à "haut potentiel". La France est le troisième pays le plus attractif, derrière les Etats-Unis et la Grande-Bretagne, avec 50.000 nouveaux étudiants étrangers par an. "Il ne s'agit pas de contingenter les étudiants étrangers mais de procéder à davantage de sélection avant l'entrée en France. Il faut faire en sorte que les meilleurs d'entre eux viennent chez nous et pas ailleurs", a-t-on insisté dans l'entourage du Premier ministre.

"Je veux que notre politique de l'immigration soit une politique globale, une politique choisie: c'est la condition même de son efficacité", a déclaré Dominique de Villepin. "Cela suppose à la fois de renforcer la lutte contre l'immigration irrégulière (...) et de faire respecter les règles qui s'imposent en matière d'immigration régulière", a résumé le Premier ministre qui entend agir "avec fermeté et sens des responsabilités".



I joked to a friend in Toulouse via yahoo chat.

"Oy!" I told him, marry her na ha ! (refering to her filipina gf).

Its been a month since his fiancee arrived and I make kulit to them, where's my invitaion card to the wedding!
He said, they are choosing a date still. Ngeeeh?

(Maybe they play jack and poy this two eh? LOL)
Or mini my ni mooooo!Alin gusto mo???...


Anyway, I asked him the marriage date ,because one never knows,laws in France changes like weather in London, maybe the French fiancee visa once granted, the girl must marry the frenchman in a week!

or deported...

When Michel discussed with me about this french immigration laws, I told him with full confidence:

I am a filipina, I got better chances than:

Turks, bwehehehe.

I know that many filipinas married to a frenchman had a lot of adjustments to do to keep the marriage work and last. Our culture in Philippines is different from them on how to maintain the household. The cleaning, cooking , balancing the checks, especially, balancing the checks-> finances of the household are all part of marriage, they should know.

Many said to me: "so you are married to a frenchman, kuripot(stingy) sila ano?" His money is his, he do not give it to you like husbands in Philippines na lahat intriga sa asawa."

I said to them, (politely) look,I respect your opinion on that, but before marrying one, you should know huh! If it is acceptable to you, then marry him, if not, look for an Indian instead... hehe.

The thing is, why the frenchman acted like that to their filipina wives. I cannot blame them if:
Their filipina is a bilmoko,(buyme this and that) LOL
Or his filipina is sending huge amounts to philippines, money is gone, always.
Or his filipina is a "keeping up with the Joneses" wife.

Before I came into my husband's life, he already settled his bills through his bank. Bank takes care of his bills. Everytime he recieve his salary, he puts it in his bank and all bills are taken care of by the bank to pay:

electric bills, water bills, telephone bills, insurance bills,internet bills, cellphone bills, grocery bills, maintenance of the house bills,and more bills, bills, bills, etc etc.

If husband is giving me the salary to pay all that, it will give me the headache more than anyhting else. I prefer his way, let the bank gets the headache!

So what are these filipinas complaining about, that their french husband do not give them money???!!!!

Hey, we are in France. In Philippines, banking system do not much of existing to filipino couples, hehe.
If you need money, marry a millionaire, or work ! for your extra needs.

And on top of it, they call their husband, froggy...hehe (a show of love and respect isnt it?) And if they get annoyed, they threat the husband for divorce...

Wow! What a clever lot!

One filipina even told me: "I dont like a frenchman for a husband, they want concubinage first before marriage, do not respect me as a wife by his salary,I have to do all the household work when I arrived home from work... and he is just there in front of tv, watching football, while I do the cooking, washing up dishes and ironing his clothes.

She added, I f I marry one, is to have papers only then divorce him after.


Anything else?

My opinion is this: Many filipinas I knew have a happy life with their french husband. I wonder why some franco-pinoy marriage didnt last.

I cant help it to keep it to myself, these stories Butler told me.

Last week he bought oranges in Carrefour grocery,to squeeze and when Madame drank it it was sooo acid, Madame told him to throw it away. I asked Butler where the oranges' origin are? Meaning from what country was it harvested? He said Morrocan. I screamed at him: WHAT! You bought a Morrocan oranges for them,for a few centimes difference to France oranges?He said:It was cheaper so I took it! I told him, buy them origin France or Italy, next time, come on, use your brain, blah blah blah...

Today he bought Oranges (origin France), and Madame was happy, told him it was delicious.
Butler said: hope they will not complain of the price on the ticket?
I told him, "they will not, they like good things than in rubbish , they feel being robbed."

See how Butler choose products?

He wanted products on the cheap, thinking he was wise in doing it and he did good deeds to the Boss. I dont.Example, he wanted me to use Cheap branded soap for washing machine,cost 3 euros/liter, I refuse. I wanted to use A---l, because it protects the material from discoloration and wash very well. He said, "that brand is expensive, "I said, "I dont care, as long as my laundry are not ruined." He insist that rubbish product, I told him I will not wash anything in this house. So I won, he bought me the brand I wanted. We got peace in the laundry room again...

And Butler asked me why I'm more attached with the Boss and Madame than him. I just shrugged, thinking, you crawl too much, but less proffessionalism, LOL


While waiting for our time at one pm, he chatted up again. In big grocery in Monaco, they gave fidelity checks worth 5 euros, or 3 euros, depends on the points from your shopping sales , and the checks issued can be used to purchase items of the shop. Butler's friend gave him some of this fidelity checks, not much , but total of 7 euros. Butler gave it to his GF Thailandaise to shop in there. The cashier said to the Thailandaise: Do you have an idenity card to present that this fidelity checks are yours?

Olaaaaahhhhhhhhh, Dear dear dear...( I reacted that way, upon hearing Butler's story.)

If the cashier did it to me, I will react: What for the id, when it is only a blooming 7 euros! blah blah blah... You can keep your checks, I will not give you my ID, you are not the Police huh!


Anyway, GF showed her ID and the cashier said: sorry, you cannot use these checks, as these are not yours.

Aie aie aie aie, whew! Pahiya GF of Butler.In front of long queue!

The thing is, upon hearing the lamentations and the maledictions and misfortunes of Butlers' gf, I told Butler:

"Next time, tell your gf to wear a fur coat, when shopping in Monaco. No cashier will question her identity as she is a Madame looking. They will be ashamed to ask her identity.

"Oh yeah, Butler, respect is learned , practiced and earned..."

Butler cried: "How much is a fur coat !!!"

Ay !(OPPPPS!)

Oo nga, for 7 euros reimbursements, he buy a fur coat for GF... Hehehehe

But the thing is, why not, di ba?

Since a week, mails were coming to our mailbox.
Starwood preferred guests membership card ek ek (from Sheraton Hotels.com)
FNAC shop discount card, if we need electronics (dvd,tv, pc, whatevers)another ek ek
Lufthansa card miles and more ek ek.
Letter of Information from MONACO SSS Services, okey ito, hindi ek ek.

And, the most I was eskayted was: UK VISA, it arrived too. Yehey!

All these are nice, but it means one thing: GASTOS ! (spend spend spend)except Monaco infos that is really interesting.


Heres the infos of the letter from Monaco Caisse Social (SSS sa Pinas)

ALLOCATION FAMILIAL (monetary help for the family)
253.20 euros per child monthly if my child is ten years or more.
I got two kids,coming so, thats good amount monthly, eh?

School expenses help (by Monaco)
363 euros per child per month if they are in college (Monaco or France University)A few euros less if still in elementary or highschool.

Not bad, not bad.

Check aids for holidays:
65 euros per member of the family or 816 euros a year check for holidays (if the salary of the couple reach 3264 euros/month.

80% reimbursement of medicines bought and doctor's fees, includes reading /correction eyeglasses.

Retirement pay of 942 euros/ month if the yearly income is 22,608 euros per month.
For couple that retires (age 65) is 1695.60 euros monthly pension if earned 360 points.360 points is when you work declared long time/full time work.

Yearly salary Total 26,645 for couple or 19,130 euros for alone retiree will recieve add on pension exceptional of 245.50 euros/month if earned 360 points.

The Letter of Information, Monaco gave also the lists of Monaco and France doctors' telephone numbers in case of sickness.

All these when it comes to money, money, money, your lola is jumping with joy. Even going crazy what to do, and how to spend it.LOL
But Michel is not retiring. He said, what for? He doesnt have time to retire, hehe.

Monaco labor rule, one must be declared at least 80 hours per month by the employer, then employer will pay 46% of the employee salary to Monaco SSS on top. Your Lola at the moment is having 157 hours,monthly minimum salary declared only, but have some other salary at the side from Bossings, with three work contracts,(proof is I got 3 work permit from three employers as autheticated by Service Emploi of Monaco, hehe, shock si Michel, "ano tatlo na contract mo???")Iba na ang charming, may nagoyo na namang employer...

Every month I got 3 bulletin de salaire. And on top of it , they are long term contracts, LOL !

I dont stay working with employers if no long term contract,in a month, I go somewhere else. Not yabang ha, but I am now 42 years old. Got to earn that 360 points required to get good pension in the future isnt it? Iba na ang wise. If ayaw ng employer to give long term contract, I say bye bye. Thats why they prepared a contract, LOL !And if mababa bigay salary, I say: I refer you to a friend, Madame. Ayun, haba oras/ bigay good salary indicated sa contract ! Hihihihi!

Sorting other mails later , I looked at my UK Visa, the notation letter attached to it says:
"I cannot travel alone to UK and will be refuse even with a visa, unless I am travelling with husband!"
Or else, I pay the visa fee of 78 euros!

Ay bakeeet, binago na???!!!(they changed already the rules? Whyyyy????)

Hataw sa singil ang UK ah!

Uncle Tony Blair, okey ka lang? Iyo na UK mo if you will let me pay the visa...hump!

Now , thats total yabang na...

Waahhh!
Today 6 degrees cold. I went to work, with an attire of : thick wool scarf, gloves, wool socks, bonnet, boots and long wool coat. As if I am going to Siberia! Really, the cold is nasty.
And Butler got cold, he likes to discuss with me!I crossed my fingers telling him: buzz off!

To avoid him, I told him: "Is it true that lie?" everytime he told me stories.
Whatever he answers to me , (yes or no) he is found lying. Hihihi.
Tricky question (from Lola): "Is it true that lie?" Say it to all nagyayabang nyong mga ka tsika, they dont know what to answer, hihihi.

Today, train strike, and I woke up early to get my trip Nice- Monaco available ONLY at 7am. Your lola suffered the cold at the train station for one hour .Lots of passengers, I got headache and running nose!
Tomorrow is 4degrees. Meanwhile in 600 mtrs high, there will be snow. Imagine, tropical area almost in Nice, there's Snow! The angels must be having fun again!

Whats irritating is,Monday, my driving lessons never been improved. This code of the road exams is driving me mad! Until now, for three months, 2x a week study/exams I still got 11 mistakes out of 40 items. Why France has soooo many road rules, I wanted to bash up who invented it! I think , I will never improve from 11 errors.I will never get the 5 errors consecutive to start driving.I am losing faith! And Michel just laugh it off. I dont. The 950 euros fees is huge amount! Meanwhile in Philippines, even a blind man can avail a driving liscence! Hummmp!
Who would understand-- > broulliard, agglomeration 50, virage, voie de detresse, centrifuge, cedez le passage, feu de croisement, feu de route, feu de position seul????!!!! Hah? Tell me.
Another thing I want to curse are the tribes of France who invented the french language! Cant they speak english like everybody? ! ! !*#~&!ù arrgh!

Just venting. I will be okey later...

Night night to all!

Today, when I arrived at work, pulling off my boots, the Boss appeared in the door!
I almost outbalanced myself, because I was holding my boots out of my foot!
(And where is that goon, Butler, why the Boss bothers me here??!!)Boss speak french to me always as he do not speak english, and I want him to speak with Butler, not direct to me, noh!.

He said: "I already opened and closed the window of my wife's room, started the heater, so you dont need to do it, I did it already".(Today its Madame' arrival for the weekend, so we are busy preparing everything for her. Boss shops, Butler ready the car and golf things, me her room and office)
And off he goes to his room to read his daily newspaper..., the Scottish dog, in tow.

I would like to answer: "So? What is it to me, Sir, LOL,why would I bother... etc etc." But I just said: Ow, Sir, thank you very much for reminding me, c'est bien, trés bien!(its fine, very good!)
He could have said it to Butler, noh!Why to me? Butler is not useful to that?!!
Hmmn, Boss wants me to know, he is useful... He works too inside the house...

2
Today at afternoon work, my Boss, said: You know how to cook rice, isnt it?
I answered: Hmmnn, not so so ,Sir.
Sir said: "Will you please just try?"
Okey Sir... But I am grunting. You see, girls, I prefer to clean the house than cooking. To let them know, that I know how to cook, then they would take my time longer, even if they pay me, I dont fancy the idea. I work long enough, thats for me is already tiring. What more if they rely on my cooking, then I have to go to grocery,plans the meals for the week, and how long will I add to my stay(hours)!?Kelan pa ako matatapos?! Suya! Kaya I dont let them know, that I can cook!

Anyway, I cooked the rice.No choice.Bleeek, asar talaga!

When the food was done, he scoooped, and ate, while I continued my work in another room, clearing up things. When I was back in the kitchen,almost finish the half kilo! He enjoyed the rice! (of course, Phil way of cooking rice is the best, as I steamed it in low fire) because them, the way they cook rice,they boil it in hot water, the rice is in a plastic bag, LOL)

Anyway, I saw him feeding himself, I told him: "Hope you will survive with my rice, Sir!"(one way to scare him about my cooking, LOL)

He stopped at mid air, then blushed and burst out laughing!

(Natakot ata, baka may lason yong rice ko. Delayed reaction na yong tawa, kasi na get niya, Im joking, hehehe !)


I left him to go back to my work and when I came back he was still in the kitchen, he took a second helping!

Second joke I told him: "Was the rice good Sir?",(he said, delicious)and I added : " Sir, make sure you leave some for Madame and daughter..."

He told me: "Oh yeah, I forgot about them.Please cook for them again the same."

Patay na ang lola nyo, doomed to cook na for the afternoon employer...Unti unti na yan,start muna sa noodles, then chinese cooking, thai cooking, malay ko dyan!

Mas feel ko,gaya ng dati, mag shredded carrots na lang sila for the meal noh! ...

It has been a week since Butler buggers/bothers me about his holiday tomorrow Saturday. Look how nasty/stupid he is.Since Monday,he would say to me:

"You will be on your own on Saturday, because I am off...Bweehehehe!"

"You will be with them, Madame is here, she will bother you...aie aie aie!"

"This Saturday they will stay at home,no golf,tom is bad weather, I am away, you will clean the kitchen..."

"This Saturday, poor you, you will really be in a jam of work, while me I will be on relax, long sleep, sunday is off too... I will think of you having a hard day..." (and he would laugh out loud, he looks demonic, yaiks!)

And I would answer:

" Dont worry,Butler, they never allowed me to touch the kitchen, since a year now, if you were off,so whats the big deal, the kitchen will be for you to clear when you are back, Monday."

"Dont worry, Butler, they might go to golf, so I am alone here, and thats for me a bliss, (especially with out you as well)."

"Dont worry Butler, I will think of you and Gf in Chinese restaurant, when you could have treat her in Hotel de Paris, Monaco..."

"Dont worry, Butler, I will phone sick tomorrow so that Boss will cancel your day-off..." (his jaw dropped, lol, because I will if I wanted to, I dont care if no salary for the day...)

So, by the one week discussion we have, he seems to enjoyed taunting/mocking me, while looking forward that I will get annoyed and will fight him back. But I dont. I will not give him that priviledge -> to be happy at my expense. No way.

Today, ten minutes before leaving at 1pm, he started again. So I said, have a nice holiday Butler. Hope you enjoy the holiday...

(Actually, I was sincere, when I said it to him, poor thing, he had been painting the house with no extra pay from the Boss).

At one pm,I was about to get ready to go, I told the Boss, if I will bring his newspaper tomorrow, as Butler is not coming to work. The Boss was shocked! He asked me: why? I told him, Butler arranged with you that he will not work as he will take the day off because of National day in Monaco, and he said you agree, Sir....!

Boss asked me if Butler is still there, can I call.I called Butler,and Butler was all red in the face,(aie aie aie! ) when Boss asked him if he is not coming tomorrow.

Butler answered (in small voice afraid to be screamed at ):" Boss, I was joking to her, I will work tomorrow."

Me behind the door:" Ngeeeh, why Butler kept on lying to me for a week now?!!!"
(After that talk with the Boss, Butler avoided me... Hihihi!)But I look forward to see him at work,tomorrow.I will ask him:

"So, Butler, how's the holiday?..."*wide grin*

Girls, even he will avoid me tomorrow (due to shame, he was found a liar), I will taunt him, even following him -> until the garden, asking him:

"Hey, How's your holiday, Butler???? !!!"

Let you know tomorrow, girls! I am eskayted , yehehehe!!!
First time in my working life, that I feel eskayted to see Butler tomorrow!!!

But why he lied???!!!

Husband and I are not travellers. Thats a fact. We are just tourists. We go when we have time (and money) to places worth visiting.
Staying in hotels is our priority. We do not want to burden our friends and families if necessary. I stayed with sisters in London, because they want to, but if possible, with husband, we both agreed to take (depends on our budget) a hotel.
We can come and go as we please, without disturbing them.

In taking hotels, there are souveniers like bathroom accesories. So before leaving, I gathered those bottles of shampoo, little bars of soap, cotton buds, bathcaps, toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, even shoe polish ! LOL
Michel would be interested on hotel writing pads and the pen with the hotel logo, but he would ask the front desk upon checking out if it is possible.Usually, the front desk will give him two or three more pens.

When in Sheraton hotel in Munich, I wanted to bring the tea sachets from the bar. Husband said :"nooooo! Leave it there." I told him, "the tea taste good, and its free, why cant I have it? It is all varieties ten packets, so it would be nice for my tea time in Nice noh?"
He said "NO! Leave the tea. If you want those types of teas, we pass by the shop/grocery and you can have it all."

I left the tea sachets grunting...

At the door I spotted nicely designed big blue umbrella and bag, embroidered with gold "Sheraton" logo/name in it, and I told Michel, "maybe we can take it? It doesnt says, for sale so maybe we can take it as souveniers , you know?"

He told me: "Anything else? Remember we have already a hilarious time checking in, we dont want to exit in a peasant (ignorant)way noh! As if we dont see/have an umbrella and a bag in our life ! !"
"But Cheri", I told him, "These are nice. Not for sale, so maybe we can take it, otherwise, we can pay for it, I dont mind?"
He said:" no!", and thats the end of argument. We left the hotel but my heart goes with the umbrella and the bag.Hu hu hu!
Michel noticed me and asked: "What for? are those stuffs anyway? You can buy better than those in the shops !"
I said: "Shops do not have the logo of the hotel noh!"

Then I keep quiet pouting.

He said(ever so patient): "Look, If you want, we can buy as many as you want, but dont take anything in the hotel. The people in the lounge area would look at us like we just came down from the mountain of Timbukto and I dont want them to see me checking out with those! Never!"

Why I mentioned these here today?

Yesterday, at work,Butler showed me:

Two Paris Hotel bags and Umbrellas !Exactly as the ones (in Sheraton )from our Boss' luggages! They took those !

Hump, Lolo Michel is just a snob !

Today Nov 11, 2005 is public holiday in France. All Saints Day Celebration! Too late already to celebrate it isnt it?
France law is : To seperate the State and the Church.But France accomodate all sorts, so its holiday for all!
Anyway, ,train stations are full up of holidayers, luggage here and there,traffic every exits,all in rush to catch the train, except Monaco employees. We all work , Butler, Michel, me and all Monaco employees.

But Monaco will have its holiday next week. Nov 19 is Monaco National holiday, falls on Saturday, but Prince Albert will celebrate it on Friday the 18th of Nov., a nice gesture from the Prince for all employees of Monaco to avail long weekends(friday saturday sunday).Thats three days no work, LOL!

Butler is happy. He negotiate with the Boss he will not work on Saturday. The goon(clown) Butler didnt know that holiday falls on Friday.

He mocked me today that he will be relax on Saturday, while I will work in exchange of the day I didnt work due to my Munich, Germany trip. He said: "You will do all the work, while me I am happy with holiday."!

He enjoyed the moment as if he won in Lotto.

Bof !!

I answered:" Have a nice holiday on Saturday, Butler, but you didnt make a good deal, so do not boast about it."

His eyes got big asking me :"Why?"

"Because if only you use your mustard-seed-size of a brain, Friday is your full day work, it is declared (exchanged )Monaco holiday, but you made a deal with the Boss of a Saturday off when you work only Half day, 9-1 pm.

He grabbed his hair and said: Oh no!
Later:
He remind me to bring home some bananas. I looked at it, it was all rotten, all five kilos. I declined the offer. No siya, nang gogoyo. He doesnt want to work for it to throw in the bin, so he wanted me to take it. No way.


Yesterday,Friday, I checked where to go this Christmas holidays, as I will have holidays (with pay)Dec 23 to Jan 1, 2006. I checked Easy jet, and the ticket to London is 12 euros one way Nice-Heathrow. Not bad, I said. I checked my passport,immediately, ngeeh! , visa expired last August 22,2005. Note girls that UK is not a Schengen State so all Non EU citizens but residing in Eu countries must ask Visa (entry clearance) if travels to UK. I still have a Phil passport so I have to ask for visa to UK.
Lolo dont need to ask for his visa as he is a EU national (maroon passport) so he just come and go to UK without it.

Going back to easyjet website, I was hooked(going towards addicted, lol ) of the airline price, I checked UK Embassy Paris for my visa which I can apply online .After a few browse, filled up the application forms online, I printed the pages and voila, I got a visa to be proceessed/approved if I send them my passport via post office with 15 euros(which I paid online also) as delivery fee of my passport with visa to our address in Nice. Meaning, I got an approved visa (entry clearance to UK )online.Yehey !!!

Heres the UK Website to ask visa online:

UK Embassy, Paris




The problem lies to: Should I tell Michel or not.

I decided, not to tell him yet, but to send our passports and livret de famille first (as per required by UK Embassy). I did send it today.

As I was cooking our meal for dinner,this evening, I try to practice mentally what to say to my husband. He was watching his Fav football match France- Germany (friendly match,) so I take some practice what to say in the kitchen and will spot some oppurtunity to tell him. I didnt. Score is zero to both teams,husband is not happy, so I didnt. I offered him his beer.

And wait.

Thirty minutes later , France still didnt score,and I got the itchy feeling of excitement building up within me to go to UK, so I said to husband:

"Cheri, I sent our passports to Paris today for my UK Visa."
"What a joke!", he blasted!
"Well, maybe we can go to London this holidays, dont you think?." I answered.
"What will you do in London in December????!!! It is below zero ° cold over there, damp, dark, raining, shops are close... not to mention fog that may cause delays inside the airport!"

Ngeeeh, is it?

I shut up, boiling inside , thinking my 15 euros paid!

I dont feel like cooking,anymore and wanted to grab back his beer, hump !!!All efforts goes to nil!
But its not his fault isnt it? What if the airport gets heavy snow and we cant fly?

I felt what Butler felt today...

Disappointed!

(Now who has a brain like the size of the mustard seed? Tell me...)

Padala ito ni Atty Pulido, pasa pasa kaya heto its in my blog, para naman hindi lagi tayo tawa ng tawa, mag spiritual naman tayo from time to time, hehe. Payag ba kayo hane?
Atty Pulido is a Catholic.All of her family. A Christian like me and Lolo.

Here is her email sent to me today:

I Don't Need a Thing

(By Bob Perks)( di ko siya kilala but ganda ng sinulat nya. May blog kaya siya? Hihihi!)


I was about to say my evening prayers when I suddenly realized that I
had nothing to ask for.

I know God is already aware of all the needs of my family and the world
that often plague my own spirit, so what could I say?

"How odd!" I thought. "My list is normally long."
A voice inside me said, "Prayer isn't just for asking."
That was, in itself, a revelation.

"Should I kneel and pray?" I thought out loud.
"Don't get down on your "needs" but stand up with your "thank you's," I
heard
deep inside.

So, I stood there and talked with Him.
"God, I don't need a thing. What more could I possibly ask of you?
You have given me so much.

I've been blessed beyond measure.
No, we don't live in a mansion and we don't drive fancy cars.
Our clothes are average, no big name labels inside.
We are not bedazzled in fine jewelry or walk in imported leather shoes.
We are still comfortable.

No, it hasn't been by any means an easy life, but in comparison to some
people I know, I feel like a king.
So, why have I called on you in prayer tonight?

I'm here just to say "thank you."
Thank you for the deep financial challenges I now face. Learning how
to live within my means ,may delay my dreams, but it brings out the best in
me. I will always have dreams.
Thank you for the health issues that turned our lives upside down
recently. They taught me to appreciate life, love, family and friends
more. I now find so much joy in every moment of my life.
Thank you for the work related conflicts. They challenge us to
understand and forgive those who lack people skills and compassion. Maybe even
faith. Dealing with them will make us stronger and perhaps they will
learn from our example.

Oh, yes. Thank you in advance, for any future challenges that may come
our way. Although difficult to see at the time, they each contain
gifts we didn't know we needed.

Yes, God. Thank you.

I don't need a thing.


(Ay oo, He provide things(gifts) even we dont even ask. Di ba, girls?)

At the motorway, going to Piacenza Italy, I told Michel, there's Genova, so turn right. He asked me why? I said the map said so. So he turn right to exit. He was mad! He told me, screaming to my ears, "this is going to the center! We are leaving the Highway! Now we are lost..." Oh sorry, I said. I thought, when I look at the map, we must pass by Genova.


In Park Hotel, Italy, we do not want to go out for dinner, we decided to get something to eat in the hotel's restaurant. From working clothes, I changed into a decent presentable dinner clothes,(black dress and a coat and a pair of black shoes) while Michel , too worn out as he came from work too and three hours drive, didnt bother to change, he was in his casual clothes of a chemise and pullover and rubber shoes.

Inside the restaurant, the ambience is elegant, with candles and orchids on a cristal vase on each table. We were ushered by a waiter -in- tux and a chef de rang (head waiter) brought us to our table for two in the corner of the restaurant. Another waiter in tux gave us the menu card. Michel whispered to me: "I feel small." I dressed like a peasant, I got to go up." I told him, "hey, dont leave me here, the menu is in Italian!" But Michel stand up, grate the chair backwards, and off he went to our room. I looked around, and Mama mia, the guests were: Men in suits, ladies in their elegant evening clothes and elegant jewelries. No wonder Michel felt small, looking more like a waiter in his casual attire ,than the waiter serving us!LOL! Then I realise there's a party, no wonder all guests are in formal wear!

So, I have to deal the ordering, which I cannot comprehend as it is in Italian language. I asked the waiter if he speaks english. And he did! He explained to me the menu, and eventually I choosed the complete menu the chef suggested with accompanying red wine. Some tiramisu as dessert at the end.Good enough I know that if the meal is meat, it is either a red or pink wine to go with it.Or else,if I didnt knew, how will the waiter would regard me, hehe.Another refugee from Asia, LOL !

Ten minutes later, here he is, my husband, the dashing debonaire walking like Pierce Brosnan of 007 movie. He was so proud, he was in his tux too!LOL! And wishpered to me: "My tuxedo is better looking.A Pierre Cardin! For the price I paid for it? Hah! I asked him, where did you buy that? He said: What buy? When did you see me buying? I found this when still working in Monte Carlo Star,a whole big box of suits being thrown. And you cant believe it, it has 11,000 francs inside one of the pockets when I found it!Year 1998!"

Not bad, not bad!

In the morning, we ate breakfast (buffet)and the cereal dispenser do not pour the cereal,seems it was stucked up, Michel was annoyed, he banged his palm in it, and voila, everyone in the room looked up whats the noise about. The waiter , ever so polite has to run quick to help Michel with his cereal. I would like to hide and tell everyone: I am not with him huh!Michel said to the waiter in french: This hotel is not good, seems do not want to serve cereals!"

Arriving the motorway going to Germany, we are overtaken by BMWs, Mercedes Benz, Lamborghinis, even a Mini Cooper. Michel, as usual , a proud frenchman, cannot accept that. It catched his throat severely! He drove our car to the fast lane of the Highway, overtaking them ,and hooted to them one after the other. And he feels he was Alonzo eh?,when he was just driving an old banger: Renault Clio. Bwehehehe!
Approaching the next pay toll gate, those car drivers gave him a sign to their head, meaning," you are crazy"

Michel enjoyed the scene.

Arriving Innsbruck, I was reading the map, I told him, hey, you must follow E26 , according to the map, then we will be in border of Germany. He said, "are you sure?" I said, "yes, it says so in the map!" So we drove 2kms more and the sign in the above panel said: Munchen E80. I said," why there's no E26, only E80? This map is not correct!"

He said : E means European road, and that map is 20 years old!I am still looking in the bin in Monaco if I can find one, even a five years old...
(Yaiks!)

Arriving Munich Center we cannot find any tourism office to ask for a new map. Running three times on the same road,round and round like teddy bear, we spotted a sign: "Info Center". Michel parked the car and ten minutes he came back laughing. He told me, that the man inside the shop said: "We are the info center but for real estates in Munich, not for tourism." Ngeeeh! But he gave us the direction in a piece of paper, and still we didnt get our destination.We throw the paper in the bin!

So off we go to the road and small streets, Michel looking left, me looking right, as we cannot find Arabella Street for our hotel. I suggested, he can try to stop at a hotel, any hotel, as ,usually, hotels got maps of the center. We stopped in a hotel and 5 minutes later, Michel approached me, upset, as the hotel reception denied him of a map as Michel asked: Where is Sheraton Hotel, Arabella.

Its normal, the reception desk will not cooperate with him! LOL I was thinking the man in the reception would like to scream at him: Insulto ka, layas!

Moving along the street which says :DietlindenstraBe, GiselastraBe, MailingerstraBe,Bleeekk! hard to pronounce! We spotted a man coming out of his Mercedez , Michel politely asked him how to go to Arabella,(offsetting the Sheraton hotel as he do not want to be refused again,LOL) The man gave us the directions and after ten minutes we are there. At last.

Michel put the car at the hotel front door, and went out of the car. I noticed a lot of beautiful cars along our path also as checking-in guests. What a busy day! Michel told the valet, "your hotel is very hard to find!" The valet, a Lebanese looking chap wearing a coat and a high hat (ala dracula attire, LOL) told Michel: "Are you sure you are staying in Sheraton Hotel? Michel arched his eyebrow, and said: "Of course! What do you think?"

(Before any bloodshed between a frenchman and the valet occured,)I went out of the car, and told the valet, "yes please, we are booked here." The valet seems do not believed us! Of course, as we are only driving a Clio,what are we doing here? Besides,the car was full of dusts and even a dried muck of a pigeon on the hood visibly greeting the valet,hehe, the car smells of camembert cheese,our snadwich we ate during the trip,(it smells like anchovies (bagoong) and here we are, having some guts to have a room in Sheraton?!!! I presumed, the valet couldnt hold the wheel of our car to park in the hotel garage! Eeeekkk!

Anyway, to clear the issue, I ask the valet, if this is the right hotel, showing him the booking page I printed from our pc. He said : "Ah okey." He was relieved, or annoyed, I cannot tell.Evetually, he said " You can leave your bags here, I check with the roomboy, and you can leave me the keys of the car, I park it for you in our secured garage."

Michel said: "No I can park it myself."
"No Sir," said the valet, "we park it for you, and if you want to go to take it, you can ask the front desk."
Michel seems worried. Our car is not a fantastic one. The seats are full of rubbish from our meals on the road( sandwiches and tin cans), so Michel cleared it a bit, by hiding all nonsenses at the boot. He even run after a tin can that rolled to the path way! And the stupid can stopped right in front of a black Lamborghini. That annoyed Michel to picked it up!
Meanwhile, me acting as ala Madame, bothering nothing. After all, huh, this is my only chance to be one!Hi hi hi!

Inside, the hotel is very impressive.Magnifico!
All the chairs and tables and lounges and paintings and flowers were synchonized into an elegant , royal, classic ambiance. The front desk personnel is ever polite, asked us if we are Starwood Member. I asked her back, "does it differ if we are paying by card or cash, the bill?"
She said:" No, Madame, if you are not yet a Starwood member, I can register you tonight and you will have some priviledges on your next stays in our affiliated hotels all over the world."
Before I can answer, Michel said," okey, let us register. As long as its free, go on, we take it." The girl checked our booking in her PC, and cleared with us our email add and voila, we are one of those elites, member of the Starwood ek ek!

I wanted to ask her: Meron ba yan sa Antipolo ha?

The room is as is in the photo in the web, we are on the 14th floor.
Michel said, "we go out to see Munich. Its still 8pm. " So we went out, ask the Lebanese valet how to go about the area, he suggested to us there is a Lebanese restaurant inside the hotel for best cuisine. Michel snapped him off, by telling him:" We are in Germany, we want to eat German food, not Lebanese!"
The valet said, if you want a taxi, there's one outside.
Michel asked: "How about our car?"
Valet said: "It is easy for you to take a taxi, Sir, Madame."
Michel and I chorused: No, no, we want our car! (because taxis are expensive, we want to avoid it, lol)
Valet explained, "it is not advisable to go out by car, but you can of course. But to have a parking inside the town is very difficult. If you want to mingle with the crowd, in two blocks, we have the underground tube."

Better. Economical. Michel and I smiled at each other, like we made a good deal, take a tube(train). So we did take the tube. In there, we dont know how to buy the ticket. A man helped us, told us to get a partner ticket roundtrip for 8 euros, than 8.40 if 2 single tickets.
In the tube, we ask a passenger,if where we can go to have some meals. He said, go down in Munchner Frieheit. I butt in, "is it the place where we can drink, glug glug, too many glasses of beer?" Michel hold my mouth! The man laughed.

When there, we cant find a decent one. Mostly the restaurants are full of beer drinkers and too noisy. We end up in Pizza Hut! Coming over to Germany, driving 900 miles, just to have Pizza Hut for dinner, the frenchman was shaking his head! LOL

In there, we met a filipina working in Pizza Hut. She chatted up, that in Munich it is interesting only when Octoberfest,Filipinas here mostly work in restaurants and hotels, taxis are not expensive,trip as far as four tube stops cost her 7 euros, a Mercedez, and if we are taking a taxi going to Arabella, it cost us 10 euros maximum...

Michel and I looked each other. We are nasty to the valet, but he was giving us a good tip! We thought taxis in Munich is as costly as in Monaco. We are thinking we will be robbed of 40 euros for a taxi in Munich, LOL

We are back to the hotel at the last trip of the tube which is 12 midnight. Michel is the guide, I just follow along.In one of the tube stops,

he said," we must go down now."
I said" no, its not Arabella yet."
He said, "it is Arabella, as the sign said so."
I told him "no, it is direction Arabella, but we are not yet at Arabella."
(How could he know, he never took a train in France!,but I do)But he
grabbed me, so we are out of the train. Then I grabbed him back to the train.His coat nearly catched by the door closing!
He asked me, "why?"
I said, "we are two stops away, then it is Arabella. The wall indicates we are still in Bohmerwaldplatz! Look! "
I twisted his head to see the sign. He said," oh thank you, otherwise, we end up walking the two tube stops in the middle of the night"!
When we arrived at the last tube stop, it was all foggy outside, we can only see the streetlights, not the streets! As if we are in the middle of nowhere. Never in Nice France we have foggy evenings, even wintertime. For me, this is weird, something like spooky, that any Batman or Dracula might appear, from nowhere!

We reached the hotel , worn out, get in the bed, kissed goodnight and voila, succumbed in deep slumber.

At,7 am,next day, Michel told me :

"The bed is huge! mama mia! I woke up in the wee hours of the morning looking for you, asking myself:
("Where is she?"
"I dont see or hold her in the bed ,where has she gone?)"
He continoued :"Then I looked around, and there you are, two meters away, covered by foamed sheets, sleeping soundly! This is a joke,What a bed! We need a motorbike here before I can reach you!"

Lastly: (para tulog na ako!)

In a german restaurant, a chinese tourist with his family (mother, father, wife, 2 girls) arrived . Waiter gave him the menu card. We are waiting for our meal that time so we watched them. He cannot understand english or german language, only chinese. He pointed to the waiter a meal he wanted for his family.

The waiter told him in English: Sorry,Sir, that menu is only for breakfast!
Nyehehehhee!

Goodnight to all!

This Lackkommode is inside the museum made by a Frenchman in Paris,Antoine-Robert Gaudreaus for King Ludwig in the year 1730/33.




 




 
The kings bedroom, but he did not sleep here. This is just for public viewing during his time. He slept in another bedroom hidden privately inside the residence.
There are lots of rooms to see, but as no picture taking allowed inside, during our visit, these are all from postcards copies.
Fascinating how the king and his family lived in those times. Napoleon Bonaparte conquered Germany and some of King Ludwigs' treasure were became French posessions, must be now in Versailles, Paris. Hope to see it there soon!

We went to a German restaurant near Marienplatz for dinner.
The photo is German bread and the beer, of course! They serve half liter of beer,each for me and LOLO! Mama mia.


Main Course with salad (not in photo)Crispy Pork knucles (fried) with sweet sauce. Two plates of this for Michel and I. And we didnt know the huge serving, we ordered salad on top of it! Mama mia! Germans eats a lot!Must be the cold?


 

The desserts: two plates of these apple strudel. A yummy apple filling with Bavarois sauce.

 
Eventually after three hours stay (just to finish all) we took tea to end the meal. Delicious!



It was an enjoyable meal ,with accordion music at the back area of the restaurant and we are served by a German girl in her typical native dress.


Going back home, Michel said: I enjoyed my holidays with you. Where is our next trip soon?
Here:

Treblinka, Poland



Fantastic! Lolo said. Girls, ask nyo hubby where is Treblinka ha?

Tomorrow I will post all the jokes (our silliness)that goes on with our trip to Munich. Wait lang mga girls ha?
Good night!

Just passing by the highway, I find Austria a beautiful country. Hope to see its cities, one day.
The pictures that posted here is the part of Innsbruck, Austria,along the highway where the border linking Italy and Austria going to Germany.
 


 
 


along the highway in Austria, the grapevine in autumn leaves.

One of the ski area in Austria. One can pick yellow pine trees for Xmas tree. LOL



Hope you all enjoy the sceneries.

 

 
 
  
 
 

Yan muna, girls. Ayusin ko bukas ang ibang pictures.