If I were a flower...

If I were a flower, I would be a geranium-hardy and can grow in any soil, as long as it is not waterglogged! A geranium can be annual, biennial or even perennial and comes in all kinds of colours- rose pink, red, blue and white ,vibrant ones may I add!

Just like a geranium, I've become hardy- from a developing country I've moved to Australia 17 years ago, not knowing anyone, alone and yet I survived and now flourishing with my gorgeous family in fabulous Sydney!


I've travelled to many lands before settling in Australia, climbed the Great Wall of China, rode in a helicopter flying over the jungles of Kalimantan as an environment journalist, among many other adventures. Through all these years I've met people from all walks of life and found Australians are the best people in the world! (Now, I'm married to one and is a proud Australian but not without losing my affinity for my birth country.)

A geranium can be propagated all over this wonderful earth through division in autumn or spring or by semi-ripe cuttings in summer. In Australia, whatever's the weather, its attractive foliage is truly at home!


If you're still not convinced, here's a lovely poem from one of this flower's greatest fans, Marcelle L:

Geraniums love walls
They seem to look their best
In front of ancient bricks -
Like painted soldiers, drest
And stiffly on parade.
Each scarlet bloom's a cockade,
On a blade of green.
They make one say:
"Who would ever dream
an old brick wall
could look so gay?"


Cheers for the gorgeous geranium!

My Fave Song by an Awesome New Group

I discovered this group just recently and discovered their version of my fave COLD PLAY song VIVA LA VIDA is much better..The band is called BOYCE AVENUE. The lead is Alejandro Manzano, Puerto Rican American, so gorgeous too! I love their version a lot, must have listened to it a dozen times just today..that is very rare for me.

Also, the song could be written for George Bush Jr or Saddam Hussein or even ..soon probably for Moammar Khadafi! Good riddance to you all!

Here, enjoy with me:

Europe cruises...(10 countries on two ships-Costa Victoria & Luminosa)

My Journ and Teaching Days

Just a few photos I found showing my days as journalist with the Philippines News Agency and my attendance in workshops in Asia, trips to Beijing, Hong kong, etc..

Photos of Distribution of Toys, Footwear & Food to Recipients

The photos say it all, the smiles and happiness on the faces of the lovely people of the Sierra Madre Mountains (Dumagats) keep us going...please give generously. Many thanks to our donors and sponsors. Cheers!

We have helped two indigenous communites in Sierra Madre Mtns in the Philippines and two more marginalised communities in Binan, LAguna through our Global Citizens Care Movement.

We distributed footwear, toys, food and school supplies through the kind donation of our members from around 20 countries all over the world. I've met some of them in our travels to Europe and also a couple who visited Sydney recently.

Through our charity organisation, we are able to share our blessings with our less fortunate brothers and sisters in the Philippines.

We also donate regularly to the Anglican and Salvation Army op shops. The excess goods and donations we get that are not fit for the tropical climate in the Philippines are turned over to these groups.

Our family owned business continues to shoulder the freight costs and other expenses we incur.

So please give generously if you are interested. Do email me at maritesscurarea@gmail.com.

Cheers!

On Pets, dogs, etc

A few months ago, I got tagged in a VIDEO in Facebook & was duly notified thru email. I was curious to see it as people were commenting supposedly about it- then I saw it- two "cute" puppies eating fried rice. I didn't see any thing funny or remotely amusing about it, they were just really eating from a bowl.

Showed it to Dave my hubby & he said, "Oh, it just shows you that someone's cooking is SO BAD it is only fit for DOGS!" So, that was the humour, LOL!

I am not a hypocrite, been telling everyone I HATE DOG SMELL, DOG POO, DOG BARK (our neighbour's dog, a Maltese terriie doesn't stop barking, grr!) I can only appreciate them from a distance. After all, I 've been bitten by a BITCH before inside a hair salon, I was accompanying my aunt who was having a haircut.

I will not apologise for this to dog lovers, it is a matter of preferences and past experiences but I do love animals as long as they are not smelly & noisy,lol!

The safest so far, as pets for us are fish and guinea pigs (their poos don't stink ,they don't cost much to feed, they eat only grass & vegie peelings, leaves, etc.)