Since the beginning of spring, there's a couple who regularly canoodle on a park bench behind the building where I work. Being the nosey beggars that we are, a workmate of mine and I often look out our office window at the mysterious couple and discuss scenarios as to what they are talking about, analysing their body language and just generally making up outrageous stories about the unsuspecting couple who, for the purposes of this blog, will be referred to as Mr & Mrs Two-Timers.
Today, as they have many times before, Mr & Mrs Two-Timers were at it again, for all the world to see. This time, instead of engaging in our usual voyeurism we decided to take on the role of private detective.
Coercing another colleague to walk past the couple with me, we prepped ourselves to act as naturally as possible - just two people walking past on our way somewhere. But just as we were making our way towards the couple, we get accosted by two scallies asking for money, presumably for a few more cans of lager. At the corner of my eye, I see Mr & Mrs TT looking shifty, got up and started to make their way back to work. DRAT!
Instead of abandoning our mission, my workmate decided to follow them, pretending to be super-sleuths...and failing miserably. They clocked on to us, they weren't buying all the pretend non-chalance we tried to act out. Somehow, I don't think we will ever see Mrs and Mrs T again.
Tuesday, 28 November 2006
Sunday, 5 November 2006
God Bless Manchester!
I've recently come back from my holidays and I am loving being back! People think I'm crazy being this excited after languishing in the California sun. But despite enjoying my holiday (I had a fab time, honest!!), I am happy to be back in the cold, dark skies of Manchester.
Why, you wonder? Well, these are at least 10 reasons why I'm happy to be back in Manchester, the heart and soul of the United Kingdom:
1) I'm back to shop assistants who don't ask how I'm doing in a sugary sweet, obviously false way. Brit shop assistants are for the most part friendly, efficient and know customers don't want to wait in long queues uncessesarily so they don't talk all sorts of crap to you pretending to be interested when they clearly aren't.
2) I'm back to eating in restaurants where I get served by people who don't expect a minimum 15% tip for the pleasure of serving you. They serve me because that's their job, and they actually like what they do.
3) I'm back to driving in smooth motorways, clearly signed junctions and slip roads, with drivers who know how to drive properly and know all about road courtesy.
4) I'm back to normal-sized food portions, where a small meal IS a small meal, and where a sandwich is less likely to have GM products that would turn me yellow.
5) I'm back to prices that are the same from when you pick them up until it gets rung at the tills. I hate it when I think I'm buying something for 99 cents, when it actually is $1.09 because of sales tax!
6) I'm back to 'Have I Got News For You', Brit soaps, The Royle Family, Little Britain, The Office, Shameless, etc. American telly is so full of rubbish!
7) I'm back to stylish yet affordable clothing. In America, it's either one or the other.
8) I'm back to fry-ups, beans, cheese on toast, fish and chips and a good old Sunday roast.
9) I'm back with a people with a dry, sarcastic sense of humour, and who don't take themselves too seriously.
10) And last, but not the least, I'm back to a proper cup of tea!
Why, you wonder? Well, these are at least 10 reasons why I'm happy to be back in Manchester, the heart and soul of the United Kingdom:
1) I'm back to shop assistants who don't ask how I'm doing in a sugary sweet, obviously false way. Brit shop assistants are for the most part friendly, efficient and know customers don't want to wait in long queues uncessesarily so they don't talk all sorts of crap to you pretending to be interested when they clearly aren't.
2) I'm back to eating in restaurants where I get served by people who don't expect a minimum 15% tip for the pleasure of serving you. They serve me because that's their job, and they actually like what they do.
3) I'm back to driving in smooth motorways, clearly signed junctions and slip roads, with drivers who know how to drive properly and know all about road courtesy.
4) I'm back to normal-sized food portions, where a small meal IS a small meal, and where a sandwich is less likely to have GM products that would turn me yellow.
5) I'm back to prices that are the same from when you pick them up until it gets rung at the tills. I hate it when I think I'm buying something for 99 cents, when it actually is $1.09 because of sales tax!
6) I'm back to 'Have I Got News For You', Brit soaps, The Royle Family, Little Britain, The Office, Shameless, etc. American telly is so full of rubbish!
7) I'm back to stylish yet affordable clothing. In America, it's either one or the other.
8) I'm back to fry-ups, beans, cheese on toast, fish and chips and a good old Sunday roast.
9) I'm back with a people with a dry, sarcastic sense of humour, and who don't take themselves too seriously.
10) And last, but not the least, I'm back to a proper cup of tea!
Thursday, 12 October 2006
The 'C' Word
On Monday, I had the opportunity to watch Vagina Monologues at the Palace Theatre. To be honest with you, I didn't know what to expect - I knew that it was going to be about a woman's private parts (What gave that away, I wonder?), but essentially, I thought it was going to filthy, hyped-up rubbish. But hey, I got tickets on the cheap, so I went.
As six of us (four women and two either very brave or very stupid men) walked towards the theatre, we were witness to a sea of sisterhood buzzing in anticipation. The show was only going to be in the city for four nights, and a quarter of Manchester's female adult population was at the lobby of the theatre, ensuring they got to see it before it moved to the next city on the tour schedule.
We quickly got settled in our seats and I braced myself for the worst. And how wrong I was! The Vagina Monologues was fantastic - it was not only eye-opening, it was liberating and empowering. It was all about humanity, about women who for whatever reason, denied their sexuality, instead of embracing it. There were parts where I was laughing so hard I was crying, and other parts where I was crying because of women's harrowing stories.
It made me understand the bondage women feel about not being able to break from conformity and culture, and made me appreciate the power of the human body and the human mind. In the end, we all want to feel freedom and satisfaction in whatever we do in life; it is unfortunate that so many women lead a life that deny them these rights.
The only thing I detested about the show was when Nikki Sanderson (who played Candice in Coronation Street) started talking about the 'C' word. I never liked the word, and no matter how excellently she executed that part of the monologue, I remained tight-lipped (no pun intended!) as she cajoled the audience to say the word out loud.
Call me a prude - but there are just some things I'm not going to compromise. I was free to do so, but I choose not to excercise that right. I guess sometimes, you just can't have it all.
As six of us (four women and two either very brave or very stupid men) walked towards the theatre, we were witness to a sea of sisterhood buzzing in anticipation. The show was only going to be in the city for four nights, and a quarter of Manchester's female adult population was at the lobby of the theatre, ensuring they got to see it before it moved to the next city on the tour schedule.
We quickly got settled in our seats and I braced myself for the worst. And how wrong I was! The Vagina Monologues was fantastic - it was not only eye-opening, it was liberating and empowering. It was all about humanity, about women who for whatever reason, denied their sexuality, instead of embracing it. There were parts where I was laughing so hard I was crying, and other parts where I was crying because of women's harrowing stories.
It made me understand the bondage women feel about not being able to break from conformity and culture, and made me appreciate the power of the human body and the human mind. In the end, we all want to feel freedom and satisfaction in whatever we do in life; it is unfortunate that so many women lead a life that deny them these rights.
The only thing I detested about the show was when Nikki Sanderson (who played Candice in Coronation Street) started talking about the 'C' word. I never liked the word, and no matter how excellently she executed that part of the monologue, I remained tight-lipped (no pun intended!) as she cajoled the audience to say the word out loud.
Call me a prude - but there are just some things I'm not going to compromise. I was free to do so, but I choose not to excercise that right. I guess sometimes, you just can't have it all.
Friday, 6 October 2006
Political Correctness Gone Mad!
In last night's news, former Home Office Secretary Jack Straw was accused of all sorts - racist, misguided, ill-informed, insensitive. All this - simply because he prefers to see the face of people he speaks to.
Mr Straw has written an article in his local newspaper, the Lancashire Telegraph, about how he requests Muslim women who visit his surgery (that's political office for you non-Brits) to take off their veil when speaking to him. He believes it to be "a visible sign of difference" which could create difficulties in community relations.
In today's climate where everyone is on edge and suspicious of Muslims, you would've thought the Muslim community would try to ease the tension and Islamophobia. On the contrary, any time anyone says anything at all about Muslims and the Islamic faith in general, it is always misconstrued and the ensuing outcry is swift and tremendous.
Whatever happened to integration? Have people not noticed how Filipinos are slowly taking over the world? We are, but no one has mentioned it. That's because we adapt to the way of life of our adopted country. We share our culture and heritage to others, but never insist on them. Can you imagine us demanding everyone to eat rice instead of potatoes?
Mr Straw simply makes his request when Muslim women are in his presence. It's not a prelude to a new law to be passed in Parliament. If hoodies have to take off their hoods when entering a shop, or motorcyclists having to take off their helments before entereing a bank, then why should it be different for any other face covering? It's not about religion, it's about human relations. Think about it.
Mr Straw has written an article in his local newspaper, the Lancashire Telegraph, about how he requests Muslim women who visit his surgery (that's political office for you non-Brits) to take off their veil when speaking to him. He believes it to be "a visible sign of difference" which could create difficulties in community relations.
In today's climate where everyone is on edge and suspicious of Muslims, you would've thought the Muslim community would try to ease the tension and Islamophobia. On the contrary, any time anyone says anything at all about Muslims and the Islamic faith in general, it is always misconstrued and the ensuing outcry is swift and tremendous.
Whatever happened to integration? Have people not noticed how Filipinos are slowly taking over the world? We are, but no one has mentioned it. That's because we adapt to the way of life of our adopted country. We share our culture and heritage to others, but never insist on them. Can you imagine us demanding everyone to eat rice instead of potatoes?
Mr Straw simply makes his request when Muslim women are in his presence. It's not a prelude to a new law to be passed in Parliament. If hoodies have to take off their hoods when entering a shop, or motorcyclists having to take off their helments before entereing a bank, then why should it be different for any other face covering? It's not about religion, it's about human relations. Think about it.
Wednesday, 4 October 2006
Fusion Food
The last time I went back to Manila in 2004, Fusion food was all the rage. Fusion Filipino and French (Eh??), Filipino and Thai (Hmmm, yeah, I suppose), Filipino and Mexican (That sounds like the makings of an upset stomach!), Filipino and...you get my drift. I don't know about you, but for me, I would go to a Thai restaurant because I want to eat Thai food - and not an amalgamation of cuisines. I have an innate hatred for anything fusion. So imagine my anger when, while perusing the menu of my favourite noodle bar Tampopo, I come across our national dish, adobo, bastardised beyond belief to include a variety of veggies and served with sweet potato chips! WHAT THE ?!?!? It's a crime, I tell you! I suddenly lost my appetite.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)