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JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL
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Twinning with Lexi Joy's little guesthouse Brendan is on his way, just as we are; en route to the airport. Earplugs on the right ready for Brendan (morning gamefarm across the road) Gardening designs and we installed security camera. Intruder Alert! Melanie at the hairdressers, gets the full attention. She's forever blowing bubbles (the pongy plastic ones) Brendan overhead, flying over Sarawak en route to Singapore Chinese Chicken Wings ready for our visitor Melanie McCauley looking a little stern, supporting Team McCauley At Davao City airport, we eat. Meanwhile, Brendan took some shots of a floral mural in the airport Poppa Mars with most of his favourite charges Our gardens in bloom Fruits, most from our garden: Banana, Lanzones, Mangosteen and Rambutan Jollibee, their fries surpass those of McDo Brendan arrives safe and sound, great to have him here for a week Our visiting cousin calls, from Dublin to Bato We inspect a huge adjoining plot of land that now is ours More shots of our new plots Panoramas from the new plot We now can see our roof anew, from the plot. A kimono for a forthcoming UN Day at Davao College for Marianne Juicy filipino fruits await consumption Next day a trip to Bansalan which is up in the Mount Apo range, about an hour's drive Brendan found out that, amongst other food crops, they grow delicious varieties of coffee on the cool slopes of the mountain. We never knew! Roadside retailers sell Durian and other fruit as well as souvenirs. Up in Mount Apo, they use small ponies and motorcycles to carry the goods up from the slopes to the lanes and on to the main roads. Some of the produce growing in the fertile soil of the foothills. Beautiful Flora decorates the way. We stop for Coffee at 'St Peds' This was the best coffee I've ever tasted. 'St Peds' Farm. After coffee we drive on up to the MonteFrio resort for lunch. The return route follows the sea shore home to Toril and Bato. Mucki and Michi with paella and friends Marianne demonstrates Small Duck (see movie). Marianne allows Brendan to read her confidential diary. Mirrored Melanie. Uncle Brendan en route to <a href="https://davaocorporate.info/listings/san-pedro-metropolitan-cathedral/" target="_blank">St. Pedro Cathedral</a> in downtown Davao City. Brendan's shots of Jeepneys and buses in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jC0jw3Gq-O4" target="_blank">San Pedro Street.</a> b&m&m&m downtown at <a href="https://davaocorporate.info/listings/san-pedro-metropolitan-cathedral/" target="_blank">St. Pedro Cathedral</a>. We visit stores that sell local crafts ‐ shells and basketware. Up we go to Jack's Ridge ‐ a great place to dine with views overlooking Davao City. I dined on Pompano for the first time. It's a fish that I am now in love with. Views of Jack's Ridge Restaurant and Gardens. Two of Brendan's panoramas, combined. Can you spot the join? Typical Tricycle Traffic, downtown. Marianne's ornamental hairgrips and Malachy, looking almost human. We visit the Malagos Resort. A lovely pool of Carp at the entrance. Our driver, Rex, armed with a camera prepares us for the boids. Marianne loves the Carp. More great shots, by Brendan. Further Malagos Carp Pool shots. The spidery <a href="https://war.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hymenocallis" target="_blank">Hymenocallis</a> at Malagos. Young banana variety and some of the features of the Malagos farm resort. The lovely Marianne. The lovely Melanie looking for Malagos features. The farm and the "ird feeding dome" where missing bees gather. Trained tame birds hop on us to eat. More of the beautifully coloured species. Who's a pretty boid then? Brendan's Boids. Great camera shots! More views inside one of the adjoining geodesic domes. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eclectus" target="_blank">Eclectus Birds.</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idea_leuconoe" target="_blank">The Tree Nymph.</a> In the Butterfly house at Malagos. More Tree Nymphs. Great Shots from Brendan in my opinion At the Bird Show 1 of 5. At the Bird Show 2 of 5. At the Bird Show 3 of 5. At the Bird Show 4 of 5. At the Bird Show 5 of 5. Nosh at Malagos. Malagos Chocolate. One cocoa tree outside the chocolate museum. Chocolate goodies for sale. Once again, Brendan is generous, thanks Brendan! Marianne is just one of the confections. Another day and Marianne is off to school again. We take Brendan to Toril Market. Watch out for that overhead pipe, Brendan! The hideous Marang ‐ not my cup of tea, but beloved of many here. Fish, flowers and our beautiful gardens. Toril Market and the fish section. Beautiful fresh goods on sale. Plenty of good fresh local produce is available here. Lovely clams, herbs, onions ‐ all local. Kept fresh with plenty of ice, in spite of the heat. Middle top is Tuna Jaw which goes on the charcoal grille ‐ it's delicious. Lovely Tuna ‐ all good to eat. Nothing goes to waste here, from fish, delicious soup is made, kinilaw (Cervice), grilled, boiled or fried. Whoopee! ? Marianne the Penguin. Marianne had a chesty cough and is using the nebulizer. Pictures of our garden; a mango tree, herbaceous border and an umbrella plant. For Brendan's last day we are off up the mountain again, this time to the nearby Eden resort and farms. A little bit overcast for our visit, not many customers about ‐ we look at the maze. Sadly, an aviary on the slope closed during the epidemic, leaving empty cages. .. where Nature takes over. Safety first on the see‐saw. You WILL follow the guide. Great view of a "fishing village" and the Davao Gulf from Brendan's phone camera. In the restaurant, most of the fruit and vegetables come from the Eden farm. The soil is good up here for sunflowers ‐ too hot to grow in our own garden. Lovely smile from Mrs McCauley. I can remember taking a little Brendan for sweets in Rathmines when I was about 10. Our roles are now reversed! We take the tour bus and sorry it's a bit cramped for Brendan. Lovely shots of beautiful blooms from Brendan. On the tour we stop to look at this exhibit of sculptures of the tribes of the Philippines in traditional costumes. There's information about the medicinal properties of local plants provided. The tall trees. Brendan wanted some extraordinary Bamboo shots for son John. An excellent hazy shot of the Davao Gulf. More blooms including Melanie. Flora and the old Bamboo. A caribou is about to attack Melanie. We collect souvenir photos. ..and here is our souvenir photo. Marianne is better, we missed her on our tourist trips. Dana lays down the law to Brendan at the departure lounge. A chance to dispose of any loose pesos you might be carrying. Brendan got to Singapore, safe and sound and celebrated with a bag of salted egg fish skin.. mmmmmm. Things must have changed since he lived there, now there's a population of 1. The big hotels and a trip to the Botanic Gardens. Tatay Marcelino Fuentes. R.J.Rubo, Melanie McCauley and Maricel Felix see recovered father and grandfather out from hospital. Singapore Botanic Gardens 1 of 7 Singapore Botanic Gardens 2 of 7 Singapore Botanic Gardens 3 of 7 Singapore Botanic Gardens 4 of 7 Singapore Botanic Gardens 5 of 7 Singapore Botanic Gardens 6 of 7 Singapore Botanic Gardens 7 of 7 Annamarie McCauley née Tuchmann in Erlenstegen c.1937. An AI process worked quite well on a blurred photograph. Brendan is able to locate his luggage with a useful Airtag. In and around Singapore central. A lovely photo of the lovely Felix family with Marianne. Marianne overnights with the Felixes. Probs getting the TV set up properly with extra storage, Disney and Parent controls. Loving this work from Marianne. 18th is our Anniversary. "Ivory" Opal is the traditional gemstone for a 14th anniversary. Opals are associated with desire and intense emotion, making them a fitting choice to represent a fiery and enduring love. A bag of anniversary chips for Marianne. x The full kit: chocs and flowers and card and drink and Melanie. Lovely card from bro in law Larry. Thanks Larry! September.. so.. Christmas lights! A delicacy here ‐ buko juice. <a href="https://summergarden222.com/products/bougainvillea-honey-rose" target="_blank">bougainvillea‐honey‐rose</a> Kuya Josiah gives it a bash. Lasagne por favor. What to do if you're late or absent. Poor Nanay in Hospital with a very nasty infection. Melanie attends. Better now D.G. Home made Chelsea Buns and Beef Biriani. Daniel and Wendy go to London with Rebekah and Lizzy.. ..to see Mamma Mia "up west" Tucking into the Tube. Marianne and Cataleya. Marianne's clay sculpture ‐ a bowl of fruit, grapes and plums on a coffee table. Lovely Bougainvillias. ? Oh Lexi ‐ you lost a tooth ! Masterpiece by Marianne x 1 of 2 Masterpiece by Marianne x 2 of 2 Melanie gets a checkup.

September 2024 Video Playlist:

1. 4th Marianne tries Badminton 0:19
2. 2nd Cards from Dublin 7:35
3. 4th Gifts from Athy 3:49
4. 5th New Plot and Tatay's Tuba 0:49
5. 7th San Pedro Cathedral in Davao City - mariannecam 0:49
6. 7th Jack's Ridge with Brendan 2:34
7. 8th Malagos Resort 1 4:27
8. 8th Malagos Resort 2 1:52
9. 8th Malagos Resort 3 5:06
10. 8th Malagos Resort 4 2:52
11. 8th Malagos Resort 5 20:18
12. 8th Malagos Resort 6 16:48
13. 8th Malagos Resort 7 8:04
14. 14th Marianne and the ducks 0:14
15. 14th garden panorama 0:49
16. 14th Banananas 0:20
17. 22nd mesmerized marianne 0:14
18. 23rd D&W&R&L in London watching MamaMia 0:32
19. 27th Mud Blood Pud 0:13 ‐ Black Pudding filipino style

AUGUST 2024 OCTOBER 2024