Subay. It's the Hiligaynon word for ants. Actually it's the Hiligaynon word for one ant -- if you have more than one ant, or a group of ants -- it's mga subay. Mga Subay. In our apartment Jerry calls me…
Tag: FindingJerry
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.
Holy Week Processions
One of the things I love best about the Philippines is their strong cultural observances, customs and traditions. You don't have to be Catholic (or even Filipino) to get swept into a Holy Week procession and become part of 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…
Back at My Desk
Hello to all my lovely readers, I'm finally back blogging. After a whole month spent changing location from an out-of-the-way rural setting to an international city, Jerry and I are excited to be back into a real living routine. This…
Mass Wedding
On Saturday Jerry's brother got married in a mass wedding. All over the Philippines (on St Valentines Day) couples were able to get married for free in a civil ceremony administered by their local governments. So on Saturday Jerry's brother…
My Little Monster
How would you pin this agile little monster (with a high fever) onto a bed and made sure he rested? © 2018 Melinda J. Irvine Daily Post: Agile I'm part of Post A Day 2018 Location: Estancia, Iloilo (Philipppines)
Brilliant
Living, working, playing, eating and sleeping in one-room small room is not without its challenges. Sleeping is really, really difficult. So for me Jerry's latest game is just brilliant. Every night I struggle to get him in bed, and if…
The Little Journal
Whenever I'm in the National Bookstore (or any bookstore for that matter), I always seem to gravitate to the journals. Notebooks fill up very quickly in my house and I never, ever go anywhere without a journal in my bag.…
Jerry’s Ballet Class
One morning I was sitting at my desk working until I heard some familiar classical music emanating from where Jerry was watching Netflix on the tablet. I turned around in surprise and asked him what cartoon he was watching. "Oh…
Little Family of Strays
Yesterday on our afternoon walk, I swore I heard some lost kittens calling each other. To be honest it's actually hard not to find or hear lost kittens on afternoon walks, there are so many street dogs and cats roaming…
Endless Energy
Jerry my little loop-de-loop from sun to gone, it sleeps but it never stops © 2017 Melinda J. Irvine Daily Post: Loop I'm part of Post A Day 2017
Lunchtime Treat
lunchtime stains little white shirt spaghetti © 2017 Melinda J. Irvine Daily Post: Uniform I'm part of Post A Day 2017
Dogwood Original Photo Challenge (Week 13)
WEEK 13: Portrait (High Key) Expose to the right and create a light, airy high key portrait. The Dogwood Photo Challenge The Dogwood Photo Challenge is a series of weekly assignments responding to a theme or technique. Participants are encouraged to…
Back to School
More than two months of summer vacation ended yesterday as Jerry trotted off to class in his school uniform and shiny new school shoes. He was super excited. Part of the excitement is being allowed to get his own tricycle…
Surviving the Trip
Whenever Jerry and I are riding the highway in a tricycle I do have the odd morbid thought about whether we will survive the trip. Tricycles are great for photographs, the scenery is so close you can literally touch it.…
Little Wizard
you replay crouching behind a tricycle and surprising me with your collected "love potion" swirling leaves and flowers and petals "you will fall in love tita mel!" you shouted showering me in your wish. then once more for you. ©…
Mickey Mouse and the Baby Chickens
I've known Jerry for almost two years now and wanted to share a little of his developing empathy, compassion and self-awareness through some stories about his engagement with animals and pets. It's very encouraging. The Death of the Finches A…
My First Mother’s Day
Today I celebrated my first real Mother’s Day. I really felt like a mum. I didn’t mention anything to Jerry about Mother’s Day (actually I had completely forgotten), but this morning while I was typing a poem on the blog,…
A Year of Growth
Jerry has been on school holidays for more than a month and still has five weeks before school resumes. It’s a long time to keep a little boy entertained, especially when I am also working from our one-room shared space.…
Perpetual Tourist
How do you find a sense of belonging when living between two countries? In 2004 I travelled to New Zealand for the first time with my BFF Jac. Both of us keen SCUBA divers, Jac eagerly told me about an…
Written in Sand
little boy writes my name in the sand (near his) then smiles my face. love you 🙂 © 2016 Melinda Irvine
Jerry! Diin sa iPhone?
When a curious little boy get's your iPhone, without you realising there's suddenly more than 600 photos. Delighted at what I found here.