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Living between two countries, the most common question I am asked or emailed is: so where are you now? Quite often I am in remote areas without phone or internet signal, so if you’re dead keen on knowing where I am, this page is for you?
October 23, 2017
Arriving back in the Philippines to wet season as well Jerry’s school semester break I am already planning a short vacation together. We’ll be spending the first few days bonding again and looking forward to getting back into a work routine. But first on the list was a visit to his best friend Nonoy who he hadn’t seen for the 5 weeks I was in Australia.
September 21, 2017
Home in Australia following my father’s heart attack in mid-September. I’m here for about 5 weeks while dad undergoes heart surgery in Sydney and then I’ll drive him home to Nambucca Heads. Looking forward to dad’s swift recovery while enjoying the lovely spring weather.
January 20, 2017
Back in the Philippines with Jerry and finally working again as a professional copywriter and blogger. I’m using the money I earn to to help kids go to school. After 3. 5 years the Philippines is basically my home now and I dream of running a dedicated creative learning centre for the children.
December 5, 2016
I’m home in Australia working and raising money to adopt Jerry. Help me get home to Jerry by reading our story at our crowdfunding campaign site and if it speaks to you, make a contribution and share with your friends.
Thank you.
November 10, 2016
Back home in Australia to earn money, relaunch my business and generally raise funds to adopt Jerry legally and permanently. So wonderful to walk the beach just down a bush road from mum and dad’s house again. Ahh the peace, simplicity and stillness of Australia is wonderful after experiencing the bustle and intensity of Asia.
August 10, 2016
Converting the back-deck into a learning centre most afternoons for the local women and children Barangay Botongon, Estancia. Jerry was so excited to have me come back he hardly left my side for the first week. “I love you Tita Mel.” “I missed you Tita Mel.” “Please don’t go back to Australia Tita Mel until you are very old.”
June 24, 2016
Back in Australia for the next five (5) weeks celebrating the 50th wedding anniversary of my parents. As you can imagine mum and dad had been married years and years and years before I was born. Walking dad’s dog Rumble along the quiet shore of Black Rock Beach is always the first thing I do when I drive into Nambucca Heads and arrive at the house. These days are precious as my parents move into their eighties.
January 11, 2016
Found a great little place to rent in Estancia, Philippines and have a seven (7) year old street boy living with me now. I am a mother of sorts for the first time. Looking to find a way to stay here and provide a safe-house/shelter for street kids and other vulnerable people. There are so many.
November 7, 2015
I don’t know if there is any way of really capturing Manila traffic, but here I am in the middle of it. I arrived back in the Philippines on October 25 and plan to stay in the provinces of Iloilo until June 2016. Tomorrow marks the second anniversary of Super Typhoon Yolanda my personal wishes to all the survivors.
October 21, 2015
I landed back in Australia on October 2nd and loving the cool spring mornings and the quiet of the Australian Bush. Nambucca Heads, Inverell, Coolatai, Brisbane, Agnes Waters, Bowen and Miriam Vale since that time. Another few days allowing this peace to fill my consciousness and connect with the nature of this place.
September 11, 2015
Still here Philippines and the provinces of Iloilo (Estancia and Sara) after almost six months. I have found it extremely hard to write about my experiences this trip. Looking forward to my flight home to Australia in early October. It’s strange having two lives and I love both of them. Really missing my friends back home. See you soon. I love you.
April 23rd, 2015
Overjoyed to be back in the Philippines, and, even better the province of Estancia, Iloilo. I am tomorrow moving to an amazing little place in a rural/fishing based barangay. I love the kids here and their joyful spirits so very much. Great fun here in between school classes and breaks safely painting, drawing, sports and of course … panyaga (lunch).
March 1st, 2015
Heading for the New England via outback Queensland. Everything is fresh after all this rain; the once dry sclerophyll forests are stunningly green and alive while the creeks and rivers are full and flowing. There are just birds everywhere singing and celebrating being alive. So am I for that matter. See you soon Inverell.
February 4th, 2015
I made it home! Mission Beach! Travelling so much throughout my life it is here in FNQ that I have that sense of ‘home’. It’s a feeling I find difficult to describe or define. You know, you have it too. Looking forward to spending some time with friends, cool rainforests, the tropical ocean and stunning landscape of Far North Queensland and planning my next trip to the Philippines.
January 23rd, 2015
It’s late January and I am headed to Mission Beach via Byron Bay via Gold Coast Hinterland. It’s my annual catch up with my BFF Jac and then onto my beloved FNQ.
Catching up with a few long, but never lost friends along the way. Sing out if you are in the area.
January 2nd, 2015
It’s a bright new year (January 2015) and I’ve just arrived back in Australia after Christmas in the Philippines. I’m here in the NSW New England helping my Uncle Richard finalise the estate of his brother and my Uncle Lincoln A. Ward.
This is a special time to share some time with my uncle who is a creative painter and organist (Uncle Richard spends his time playing, restoring and researching pipe organs and their history).
I am returning to the Philippines in the coming months.