Last week in Estancia was one of the best weeks I have ever experienced in my life. So many prayers answered and being around creative energy, music and friendship -- just wonderful.
Music is Magic, Medicine is Expensive
Category: Children
Music Man Project Philippines — Inaugral Concert for Botongon
Watch the full Music Man Project Philippines inaugural concert (minus a few speeches) for Botongon (Estancia) Philippines. Held 5.30pm, 15 February 2020 at Barangay Botongon Gym Plaza.
Bringing music and medicine to the kids of Botongon (Estancia), Philippines
Imagine how thrilled I was 6 months ago when a friend in the UK contacted me about coming back to the Philippines and bringing a FULLY FUNDED music program and medical mission. Imagine how thrilled I was on Friday when the first of the music and medical team arrived here in Iloilo City.
Frogs’ Legs
It rained and rained in the middle of the night and Jerry woke up to the shrieking sounds of frogs below his bedroom window. He eagerly grabbed the military grade binoculars given to us last year when our friends Kevin…
Getting all the kids back to school 2019
Each year (with the help of friends and family), I use the money I earn as a freelance writer to support about 20 Filipino kids in their schooling. Throughout the year family and friends (and even a few people I've…
Green and Red
Everything is green and red TODAY. Jerry picked up a red flower today and asked me to photograph him with his favourite colour. I love living in Jerry’s magical world of flowers and butterflies.
Boy on Bike
I can ride I can ride I can ride ... He shouts like every kid who ever learned to ride Then hits a tree [not pictured]. Hiring a bicycle for Jerry to learn to ride in the gardens of the…
When You’ve Just Gotta Dance
Isn’t it just the coolest thing when you’re sitting under a shredded tarpaulin on a stinking hot day — at a school after the Grade 6 graduation — and you look up and here’s this little kid in the full…
Christmas Time is Here
My adopted son Jerry was selected earlier in the year for the school choir (or Glee Club), we changed to a new school in June so it's all still quite new for him. Here is their Christmas performance live on…
Little Firefighter
Friday firefighter dressup sliding down the firepole
In Trouble
5 double-sided pages of handwritten notes first he writes "I will not fight my classmates" all the way across the top then he writes 'I will' half-way down the page then he writes 'classmates' half-way down the page then he…
Celebrating Buwan ng Wika 2018
Jerry recently joined the school choir (or known here as Glee Club). It was very serious stuff selecting his audition song, plus enduring the 10 day wait to find out who had been selected to represent his grade. What Jerry…
Left Behind
Just because I'm small shouldn't mean I cannot come I'm small, but very big and I want to have some fun If you'd just wait and help me Down this hill then I'd be right I only need your hand…
No Fixers Allowed
This year for World Literacy Day, Jerry and I went back and visited Estancia. We spent Friday night making reading packs for 18 of our friends and put them in shiny bags. It was exciting, though Jerry was feeling a…
Texting Cousins
One of the coolest things since meeting Jerry and creating a life together is his enthusiasm for my family. Just recently I got him his own kiddie messaging app and he's been texting my nephew Declan (the son of my…
Talking About Tuberculosis (TB)
Jerry has officially been on his TB meds now for two weeks so his incubation period is over. We've spent the last fortnight adjusting and falling into a ritual of measuring out pill quantities, cutting and swallowing. Followed by milk…
Stand-off in the Kitchen
I don't wish to kill you Mr Spider But I don't wish Jerry to be bitten either ...
Testing Positive for TB
The Philippines ranks #4 in the world for reported incidences of tuberculosis. And yesterday Jerry become one of those statistics. Children who grow up in poverty and experience malnutrition are especially vulnerable to TB, as they often live for years…
The Stories We Tell Children
In the corner of our dining area is a door with a broken lock. I've stuck a red plastic bag inside the hole where the lock used to be, and put a couple of plastic stools in front to casually…
Jerry’s Laundry Assignment
Jerry's school assignment this week was a video of himself handwashing the laundry. I wasn't exactly thrilled with the project and maybe this blog will demonstrate why.
Book Review: Diana and Her Rhinoceros by Edward Ardizzone
Diana and Her Rhinoceros by Edward Ardizzone My rating: 5 of 5 stars I'm not sure how long this old book has been in the family, or how many times I've read it. But reading it again was a delight.…
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Book Review: Me, the Tree by Ann Louise Ramsey
The earth has worked her magic on me, in return for my love of being a tree. Anne Louise Ramsey.
Jerry’s Mango Drink
Since moving to Iloilo City, every day Jerry likes to buy a little mango drink for about 25c. He trots down the road with his wallet and 10 pesos and returns with a disposable plastic cup filled with condensed milk,…
Ronalin’s Hat
If you remember my tale from last week about a little girl with severe head lice, this is the sequel.
Hello Kitty
This morning I was sitting here at my computer, clattering away at they keys when I was called outside. "Come and look at this," I heard. Outside was a little girl of 6 sitting at the top of the stairs,…