<<<=== my cheapest and dearest purchase of 2008

It's a brand new year. Another chance to redeem ourselves from the mistake of the previous one. A chance for us to start anew. A chance for us to do what we've always wanted to do but never got to do the year before. Hence all the New Year's resolution you hear of every year. I never made any. I guess I am that type of person who knows myself too well. I know I am not going to keep a resolution that I made just because the year has changed. I make resolutions every time - every time I am ready. This year will just be a better 2008 for me, just like 2008 was a better 2007 and so forth. The only change I want to make is to get my mother here, and I am not quite certain if that would take place this year. I am highly doubtful but 2010 is just around the corner, and I look forward to it so I better make 2009 tremendously great so 2010 will be doubly amazing :-)

Last night, I missed our traditional Media Noche. I miss the big feast on the table and the fireworks. Well, I got to see a bit of fireworks last night but it was the neighbours'. There was not even one in our entire lane! Maddie said it's cheaper to watch somebody else's which I thought was humorous. It was -3 degrees outside but I opened the window to hear all the bang and boom outside and somehow it cheered me up even though it left my face and hands freezing. It was worth it if only to hear the high spirits in the laughter of the people in the pub just next door to us. I heard that there was a police car and poilice van what drove past the lane to the pub five minutes later.

James offered to buy 12 round fruits and buy other food stuff from Sainsbury's which I thought was sweet of him, but I think I can wait until my mum is here and James and I have kids, and we will definitely have New Year's Eve party. If fireworks are too expensive, we'll get sparklers for the children and if torotot is available, pwede rin :-) New Year's Eve here is just like another ordinary day, very far from our Media Noche festivities back home which is like Noche Buena (Christmas Eve feast) only better! Chris and Maddie went out to watch a rock concert whilst James and I sat on the couch watching 'Chocolat' pigging out on crisps and chocolate biscuits.

This month is special to me. On the 30th, James and I will be celebrating our 3rd year wedding anniversary. I can't believe it's already been three years since we got married. We're thinking of going to London to celebrate it but I don't know. With this credit crunch phem I think we should play our part. I was looking at The Derbyshire Times this week and there were like four jobs which took only 1/3 of a page, compared to 3-4 pages when I first came here. London will always be there and we'll have plenty of chances to go see it. We'll just save up and wait till I can go to Spain, Italy or France without the hassle of getting a visa, which reminds me... I need to update my passport as it has expired 6 days ago. I think I'd need to go to London for that.

The weather here is so terribly depressing. I miss being able to go out in just my jeans and blouse, and sandals. I hate having to wear tights underneath my trousers, having to put on a scarf and a big coat, gloves and hat. I feel like a mascot to be honest, I get lost in all those layers of clothes. But I guess it's a choice between that and freezing my arse off. I wish there was a third choice...

So before I stop writing for now, I would like to wish every one a very peaceful and blessed Happy New Year. And thanks for all those who wrote to me looking for my blog, I did not expect that people read my blog. I write mostly for myself. I find it very therapeutic. But it's flattering and sweet to know that people spend time to visit this tiny dot on the internet world. Cheers guys and gals, and cheers to 2009!