Members visiting the Philippines

I'v seen the queues in hospitals many times, the last time when I had cataract operation 3 months ago. I had to go in at 6 am to avoid the queues and make an appointment later that morning.

There's a filipina nurse, yup, nurse in Canada who was originally a Dr in the Philippines, retrained as its easier for nurses to get out of the PI.
I think there's 500k nurses in the PI, does anyone actually think they studied nursing to stay in the Philippines?The Philippines allow 5500 a year to work abroad, the rest who aren't "allowed" out call themselves prisonurse.

I asked my wife last night about holidaying in the Philippines and she said no, she wants to see other places!

Hehehe - both actually

Is she related to my sister in law

Managed to exchange some money for my forthcoming trip later this year. Couldn't turn this down.

Of course she would as she has the travelling bug now.
Most people want to see as many countries as possible because they are so different thus exciting compared to the Philippines in your wife's case.

I have been to maybe 65’ish countries,’er indoors has been to quite a few,you must have notched up a fair few passport stamps?

It was 70+ last time I checked.
I used to wake up wondering what language I would have to try to speak
I was so glad when I stopped travelling and not to have to board another plane and constantly watch out for people trying to rip me off.
This was the pitfall of travelling as it wasn't relaxing most of the time.

I had to fire-fight problematic logistical problems most of the time from the first minute to the last .
I lived in Punta Arenas in the Antartic region of Chile in 1979 and this was my favourite place because I wasn't in a hotel, had a Chilean girlfriend and had six months in one place; I was young and life was very exciting, as it usually is for young men.
I do miss travelling now and am looking forward to going to Mallorca in Spain with my family, to do the things that used to fill me with dread, lying on a beach like sardines but time and tide changes and so do values and perceptions.
I just want to walk along a beach watching my kids frolic about in the sea and throw them into the swimming pool (if my back doesn't give way).
They mostly find me boring these days as they are 11 and 12 years old and I am "uncool" now.
I don't understand memes and they both have laughs at my expense. Hey Ho
They can't stop me laughing at things though.

The good old days eh on the plus side I might be going to Geneva for the day sometime this week, and have Canada coming up but not the same as having a bag of cash, no fixed destination, and going walkabout.

my wife is forever moaning that she wants to travel and see lots of new places--and i dont.

My passport has now expired--unused !! and i wont be getting another.

i want her to take driving lessons--so i can give up driving. I bought her a car 5 years ago to learn to drive--but shes never once sat in the driving seat.

Has she applied for a provisional driving licence yet?

had it years. never used it. Still--it bought my insurance premiums down £30. go figure.

There's something worse than my sister-in-law on her karaoke...

Unfortunately, it's fiesta and she's singing on mine... which means she's even louder

I wouldn't mind if it was just a few songs but she's probably on her 6th now.... anyone, anyone but her!

I feel your agony!
I only ever sang through a microphone in a karaoke once over there.
People said I sang well but I remember that everyone wanted to grab the microphone as soon as I was finished.
It semed that there was always a queue of people who wanted to practise their vocals.
I never did it again.

I spent 5 weeks from December to January and a further 4 weeks from February to March in the Philippines. My wife travelled there and spent the last 3 months of her maternity leave there.

No massive changes, certainly more Korean tourists, particularly in Bohol. I was told there's now direct flights.

£1 = approx 70PHP
That's OK for a single person but not very good for a family with the ridiculously high flight costs these days.

It's getting more expensive to live in the Philippines. Just yesterday we went to a well know restaurant in Dumaguete. I noticed the menu price had gone up in price considerably. And everything has gone up in the super markets.
Don't know how the locals go on.