Season's Greetings! Photos of Family, Friends and Travels in 2012

Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and many blessings in the New Year.  

They say that a picture is worth a thousand words. So, here and in the Photo Gallery to the left, are some pictures of family, friends and travels in 2012 that will spare you reading a very long blog!!

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We started 2012 in Manila.  We stayed first with Ivo, Gracita, Katrin and Nina and then with Mama.
The Siebers have a great house with a big garden and pool.  It is heaven.

50 laps a day in the Siebers' pool!

Nina, Uncle Edgar & Katrin

Ivo & Gracita

It sure beats winter!

We had a nine course lunch at Claude Tayag's now famous Bale Dutung Restaurant in Pampanga Province about 90 kms north of Manila.  It featured in one of Anthony Bourdain's TV shows.

Gracita, Mama, Mrs Tayag, Regee and Chef Claude Tayag

Regee and I went on an epic bus journey up north and stayed in Vigan, Loag City and finally, at the Kapaluaan Beach Resort in Ilocos Norte Province.  Sadly, our beach stay was wet and blustery.

Villa Angela, our hotel in Vigan

Old Church Tower, Loag City, Ilocos Norte

Kapaluaan Beach Resort

Towards the end of our trip, I went on a photo safari to Batanes Island, the northern-most island in the Philippines.  It is so beautiful--with rolling green hills, a rugged coastline, white beaches and no traffic.

Mandy (with red bandana) was our guide and teacher

Main Highway, Batanes Island

Trying to take off--always a high wind in Batanes

In January/February, Paul visited his girlfriend, Virginie, in Burgundy, France.  They went  off to the South of France and stayed in Nice and Monte Carlo.  Another winter escapee!

Paul in Nice

Back home, in March and May, we had two new arrivals in the family:  Finlay in Boreham, Essex (thanks Becky and Steve); and Max in Winchester, Massachusetts (thanks Patricia and Adrian).  Two bonnie boys--ain't they cute?  I went over to England to meet young Finlay in April and, of course, Regee and I go up and down to Boston to see baby Max.  They are both big smilers and always deliriously happy--unless food is not immediately available!

Finlay

Max

Finlay joined his cousins, Paige and Eleanor; and Max joined his Ate (big sister), Veronica (a.k.a. Rocky and VeeVee).  There's never a dull moment with this gang!

Paige and Eleanor

Veronica

And we mustn't forget the proud parents who have their hands full 24 hours a day.

Becky and Steve

Patricia, Adrian, Veronica and Max

And proud grandparents too--who love them dearly but need their sleep!

Maureen with Finlay

Max almost stole Regee and Jose's May 5 birthday but did the decent thing and came on May 6.  Phew, that was close!

Regee, Patricia, Jose and Max on May 6--Max wanted his own birthday!

We had a visit from Jose, Erik, Jen and Paul on May 19.  Here they are in chow mode!

Jose, Paul, Jen, Regee and Erik

Jane's sister, Aliki, visited us from Australia in June.  She loved wandering around all the shops and museums and a good time was had by all.

Aliki, Sarah, Jane and Paul

Sarah, Jane & Aliki

Paul, Jane and Sarah had their birthdays in May and June--Aliki was here for Sarah's birthday.

Aliki, Sarah, Jane and Paul

In July I went fly fishing with my two ADB buddies, Rich and Wayne, in Washington State.  I had never been fly fishing before but these two experts tried to teach me.  It is not as easy as it looks!

Last cast of the day on Bussard Lake, Rich's wilderness home near Spokane

Rich launches off on a quiet lake

September 7 was Veronica's 3rd birthday.  She had a great party with all her friends and family and is totally indefatigable.  She loves playing Doc Mcstuffins and we all have to have check ups.

She even has a DocMcstuffin cake

Can I have a cupcake?  It's URGENT.

Also in September, Regee headed off to Manila where she is writing a book on the health benefits of coconuts together with many recipes from the Coconut House Restaurant in Quezon City who has commissioned her.  This meant that I had to do a lot of fishing, hiking along the C&O Canal and bird watching.  The bird life along the Canal is amazing--especially if you go just after dawn.

Rockfish Galore

Dawn over C&O Canal

Old Blue Heron

And that sort of brings us to December and the Christmas season--where fighting with light sabers is traditional--at least up in Winchester where Regee and I just visited Veronica and Max.

Veronica fights off Darth Vader--and she won

Xmas Lights, Faneuil Square, Boston

Regee's Xmas tree

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!