Update for my passport app

If you read my last blog, this is the continuation, anyhow, since i didn't hear from the Philippines embassy yesterday after I waited all day long, I decided to give them a call early in the morning today to see if they've receive my email, surprise surprise, they have but didn't even bother to reply or call me back as requested (pretty slack huh?). Anyway they put me through to the Attorney General to have a chat, to make the story short, he apologized for the delay and also promised me that He will coordinate with the Brisbane office to put my appearance schedule sometimes this month so that they can send it back to the Philippines for a passport production and if my passport still doesn't arrive in time for my trip to Japan, He promised that they'll extend my last passport so that i can still go on my trip. ( I didn't know that they can do that, but apparent they will, so fingers crossed). After that conversation i felt a bit relaxed but i wont be at ease until i hear from them again within this week for another schedule for me to make the appearance, so i will keep you posted.

The Call that ruined my day

My Philippines Passport has expired May 2008, I didnt renew it straight away because i thought i should just wait until i get my Australian citizenship then apply for a dual citizenship and that's when i should be renewing my Philippine passport so i can save some money, anyway I decided i should just go renew it anyway, last week was when i lodged my australian citizenship application and got approved December 1 last year, but until i pledge my oath (do the ceremony) i wont be australian citizen therefore cant apply for an Australian passport, the ceremony takes place within 6 months so dont have any clue when that will be. Anyway i sent my passport renewal application to the Consulate General of the Philippines here in Australia on the 27th of November 2008 (well before the holiday season), I sent via Expressed post and registered the mail too, I have been waiting since then for them to call me back for an appearance so i can sign and thumb mark, and finally yesterday i got call from embassy here in Brisbane, the lady on the phone told me that the first date that i can go for an appearance is on the 24th of Feb 2009, but see that is an acceptable because that means i wont get my passport before i go to Japan on the 12th of March because after my appearance they have to send my application to the Philippines for a passport production, which means I'm screwed..i was even angrier because the lady on the phone told me that there's no one to act on behalf of the consulate general whose absent, which i know for a fact that its a total lie, because if the in charge goes away, there's always, always! someone to act on his behalf, anyway to make the long story short, I called the office in Canberra (the general consulate's office) and spoke to another Lady and told her my concern, she then told me i have to write to an of their officer to see what can he do so that i can get my passport dont before my trip to Japan, so i wrote him an email straight away and now just waiting for his reply. I hope that he can expedite the process, after all i've done my part and they didnt do theirs. I will let you know the outcome.

Brisbane International - Australian Open Series

Since we're jobless still and we have so much free time on hour hands, we decided to go to a tennis match, i've never been to a live tennis match before, so my super nice husband bought a ticket for us, I love it! i saw some top seeded player and good tennis matches, I'm a sports fanatic, i love watching tennis, unfortunately MY Roger Federer didnt come to Brisbane:( he's playing in the Kooyong Classic leading up to the Australian Grand Slam in Melbourne instead. I was a little disappointed because Djokovich lost in the first round as well as Marcos Bagdhadis so didnt get to see them live, but Ana Ivanovich made it to QF which is good and then there was Fernancdo Verdasco, Soderling, Gasquet, Tsonga, Azarenka, Marion Bartoli, Stepanek, Mathieu, Amelie Muareso etc, so overall we still saw some good players and had fun!! These photos were Taken in the Pat Rafter Arena, centre court.

Brisbane International - Australian Open series

Treat trip to the WB Movieworld with some of the Primary kids

As a reward to the our kids in primary who were able to passed off their 13 Articles of Faith, a few scripture masteries, we took them to one of the Theme parks in the Gold Coast, the children were very excited, we were very impressed on how they all behaved that day. We're grateful to their parents for trusting us with their kids. We had a blast, the girls were a bit scared of some rides, Lina (the girl in yellow shirt) was so scared, she had her eyes closed most of the time and screaming at the same time, but she went on 2 more rides after that (brave Lina lol:) We made her go on the rides though..(meanie us hehehe). Overall it was a fun day and Chad and I crashed in our Lounge room, we didnt even make it to our bedroom that's how tired we were.

Welcoming 2009

We had a very simple New Year's eve celebration, we went and saw the Curious case of Benjamin Button along with my father in law ( we all thought the movie was nice except for the ending). After that we proceed to see the early fireworks (for the kids) then went home and just watch the rest on TV as we cant wait for the big fireworks (12 midnight) we're not party people, quite boring reallybut it was nice in a way because we had time to contemplate. We're thankful for all the blessings we received and trials we've been through because they made us more stronger and learned special and important things. And we hope that we'll be deserving people to receive whatever God in store for us this year. We wish you all the same. We love you all!!

Let me fill you in

Hi Everyone, sorry it's been awhile.. (seem's like this excuse is getting pretty old:) anyway it's been crazy the last couple of weeks, most of you probably dont know that Chad and I worked at the same place, the same department and belong to the same team too, we even sat across each other (only devided by a desk wall).. anyway the 3rd week of November is when we received the bad news, we knew it's coming, it was just a matter of time.. anyway we're both made redundant (well the whole department anyway).. and yes this is due to the economic crisis, so we've been busy looking for jobs..we decided that we will just take it easy during the Christmas break and we'll look harder next year in January..since most businesses are closing during the Christmas break, so most of them are not hiring until after Christmas..with all of this going on, Chad and I decided to booked our flight to Japan in March crazy huh??:) i would love to go and do a Europe trip but its expensive at the moment so we settled for Japan ( we got cheap flights plus we'll be staying with friends most times.. we're both very excited! Last week, my Australian citizenship application has been approved and hopefully i will get sworn in on Australia day the 26th of January to become an Aussie:) and yes i will be applying for a dual citizenship, still am proud pinoy!! anyway for now I still work 1 day a week as an administrative Assistant in the consulting firm but even that is a little slow because of the holiday season.. So we hope that 2009 will be a great year for us..I wish you all a Safe Holidays!! Happy Christmas and a safe and wonderful new year!

continuation - A day in the park

Cricket in action
Take two Ava kissing mummy
Chad and moi - paparazzi shot by Ben hehehe!!
Take two, i dont know what i did my somehow, the photos from the post disappeared, so here it is. Take two!!

A day in the park

Top pic: Ben and Ava

2nd picture: Chad bonding time with Ava,

3rd Pic: Jacob, me and Isaac

bottom left: us

Bottom right: Ava giving her mummy a kissy.



Chad invited us to come see him play cricket (this was last Saturday), His dad, his sister(Hope) and hubby (Ben) along with bub Ava and 2 of his nephews Jacob and Isaac, when it got a little bit boring to watch, we explored the park and took some photos.

A day in the park