Letter from Manila - Santol - of course!

Aye, the application of a bit of common goes a long way.

Anyway, as I spend much time finding fault and picking holes in a country I thoroughly enjoy living in, here's a tale of success, after a fashion.

To start it all, my laptop died Sunday evening. To be fair it was bought during our, between project, poverty days, second hand and a shade over a hundred quid. Since then, it's been in constant use and given the project we've been working on, it probably sought blessed release in electronic suicide. Whatever, it was dead.

In addition, on Friday, I received notification of a parcel that needed collection from Manila Central Post Office, and we know all about that place, don't we children?

I decided to take Monday off to kill all the jobs in one go. Problem being if we don't work, we don't get paid. Bit like the Burma railway really, although without the cholera. Whatever, had to be done and I wasn't looking forward to any of it.

So first up is MCPO and Angkas is pressed into action, this being the new motorbike taxi company I've mentioned before. They arrived just after nine and, following a very harrowing journey down Taft Avenue drag strip, where you learn exactly where you are in the vehicular pecking order, i.e., likely beneath a Jeepney's tyres, we arrived at our destination. Having previous experience, I pay the rider and send him happily on his way, rather than asking him to wait.

I enter the dreaded portal, steeling myself for what was ahead. Arrived at Window 124 and my notice was immediately taken from me by a personable young man. No Mildred discussing the origin of black holes then. He disappears into the back, returns with an envelope which he hands to a colleague. A minute later my name is called and, having been relieved of two quid (minimum customs duty) and signed his book, I'm kicked back onto the street. Less than five minutes, tops.

Thanks again Frankenhealey ! 

As mentioned, I'd sent the rider away, but no matter. Get the app working and I'm duly collected again and on the way to the bank to withdraw laptop cash.

The bank operates a ticket queuing system, you tell a little machine what you want to do, and it gives you a flimsy with a number on it. I assume this is to prevent fights, as Filipinos have no concept of queues. Elbows, yes, queues, no.

It can take a long time, even when the bank is empty.

I got my ticket and had just sat down when a lady calls out, "48!" Nobody responds.

"What's your number?" she mouths at me and I flashed my 49 at her. She waves me forwards. Five minutes later, I'm out of the bank, all wedged up. Bloody hell, this is too good to be true.

Again, I'd sent the rider away but no matter, my destination was an easy few minutes stroll away and I'd intended to walk anyway.

I arrived at Robinson Mall, a hellish place for those delicate souls like myself, but manfully, I entered.

Managed to navigate to the computery bit with no issue and selected a shop. This held two surprises. One, I wasn't followed around the place by a spotty youth extolling the Facebook connecting or gaming abilities of each model and two, having made a selection, found they actually had one in stock!

There was only one thing to do after all these shocks, and I bet you can guess what, can't you?

Yup, retired to the bar where I was very efficiently served several cold ones by a very, very attractive young lady. A pleasant end to a morning full of good surprises.

See? It can work sometimes! 

Picture or it never happened

Oh, it happened.



Top man!

I'm with them on the mechanical engineer bit....

I think the UK has long suffered from a snobbery about people who work with their hands, but I suspect that there are more than a few plumbers, electricians and builders who make more money than lawyers and accountants. More useful too.
Me I remember delivering a photocopier in a well paid post graduation temporary job to a snobby 'Lady' where I had to fit collating trays feeder etc. on site. To quote "looks like one needs a degree in engineering to do that" "that's OK I've got one thanks" was my reply. Well educated person I was working with as a semi-retirement job nearly spat his tea up the wall while trying not to laugh. 

James

 

We seem to have a lot of UK trained engineers in New Zealand.

As long as you're not holding the bottle to your lips, the facial recognition should still work..

Just getting outside some red wine to get me in the mood for cooking.

Two huge sheets of pork ribs, as per Little Bottle Openers request.

Nice and quiet here today as everyone sods off back to their villages.

Thanks for the ups and downs in 2019, Happy Christmas and the very best to all for the New Year.

Merry Christmas to you and the gang George.

Thanks for the years entertainment

Thanks for the good wishes.

I'm amazed here that after 4 months build up, you get Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, then it's back to it. Of course if you work in service or retail, it doesn't exist at all!

Roll on the Easter shutdown.


For some reason I've never quite fathomed, they don't use the same names as the rest of the world. So to you, it's Phanfone (which could be the name of a teleco) but to me, it's Ursula.

And to those whose Nipa hut has just disappeared into the wild blue yonder, it's probably called something else entirely!

But, no, apart from a little rain, we weren't affected.