Amelia's Nest

One of the things that parents should provide to their kids is a good health and one of which is to make sure that their vaccinations were given on time and accordingly. Since vaccines help improve our immunity to a certain disease or illness. Children needs it to protect themselves for the danger of having any disease. Nowadays cost of vaccines is much too expensive but it should never be an excuse not to provide one for the kids. Parent can check on the community health centres and some government institution if parents has issues on finances. It’s the responsibility of parents to ensure that their kids where given much attention when it comes to their vaccines.

My daughter, Ria had her last vaccine last Monday, February 23, 2009. Her paediatrician administers the 5 in 1 booster vaccine, that includes DPT (Diptheria, Tetanus, Pertussis), Polio, and HiB. That will be her last for now. Her next vaccination will be given when she reached age of six(6) same with her brother, Ralph. Ralph finished his vaccination four(4) months ahead of Ria. Hubby and I are so happy with this accomplishment. That vaccines where given at the right age and in accordance with the schedule.

Below is the schedule of vaccination for the kids for reference to those parents and parents to be. It is much better to ask your paediatrician on the combination of vaccines and other details of your child's immunisation and vaccination schedule.

As I have mentioned in my previous post, our celebration of our third wedding anniversary was an island getaway also the family vacation. Last February 18, we headed to Rawa Island Safaris located in Mersing Johor, Malaysia. It was a four hour drive from Singapore and thirty-minutes speed boat. This was our first time to ride in a speed boat. It was fun and exhilarating but with a little hassle on the side since kids had a motion sickness. They can't just bear the wave and sort of those things. It was bumpy and rough but when we reached the island everything was paid off.

We were greeted with pleasant smiles from the island staff then had our welcome drinks and afterwards immediately proceeded in our room. We occupy a two standard hill side room. The place is like a house in the woods, simple and snug. The island was so tranquil and serene. Everything was just so perfect the sand, the sea and the weather was invigorating, not too hot and not too cold. The sand was finely-white and the beach was crystal clear blue water, you can even see the fishes and the corals. It was past 1:00pm when we arrived and had our lunch. The food was so scrumptious and mouth-watering can’t say anything other than that. We were delighted with the food and the service.


The kids enjoyed much of the sun and the beach. They played most of the time in the sand and beach. On our second day, we tried kayak and let Ralph had his first kayak experience. We sung “row row the boat…” while hubby and I paddled the kayak. He had a lot of fun and enjoyed the experience.


In the island were the only Filipino guest all through out our stay, mostly are from Europe. There was a lady named Donna who approached my mum and asked for a big favour, to keep an eye to her only son since she wanted to go snorkelling with her husband and my mum said yes. While on the beach Donna approached me and thanked me for the gesture and we had a small talk, they came from London and just spending their vacation in Singapore and Malaysia then back in London after. It was just heart-warming to see couple enjoying themselves even though kids are already there. Just snatched out some time together.

There are a lot of activities that you can do in the island like snorkelling, island hopping, billiards, darts, tennis and you can also read book and magazine provided in their recreational hall. We both enjoyed playing table tennis or ping-pong and it’s for free. Hubby was superb in playing table tennis.


At night when the kids are sleeping, hubby and I make our way to the cafeteria to have some drinks and enjoy the night together. Have some tequila sunrise cocktail and rawa mocktail delight for me while screw driver and cappucino for hubby.

And since reading was an absolute joy for me, I didn't let it pass, I brought my book from a favourite author and sat on the swing facing the beach with my sunglasses on and had the best moment of my reading time. The wind was so cold that I actually fell asleep.

The getaway was fabulous, a vacation at it’s best. No need to worry what to cook, clean the house, wash the dishes, beating deadlines, on-time meetings and what-not. Just a one great vacation. Truly our vacation was a sweet escape from the busy life, complete freedom from trains, buses and what-not. It was simply a revitalising one.

Malaysia here we come!!!

Few hours from now my family including my mum will be off for Malaysia, three days - two nights at Rawa Safari Island. As I've mention on my previous post this is the celebration of our third wedding anniversary and our family vacation as well, a first family out of the country trip. It's the same feeling I have when we had our Coron celebration. Can’t hide my excitement. Days ago hubby and I bought the things that we need like beach toys and bathing clothes for the kids, sun block and what-not. Hubby even bought a camcorder for this activity though we have our SLR camera still he bought a new camcorder. It’s because he wants to capture in video this family activity especially the moments of our kids.

I will post pictures and write something on the vacation as well as the review for the video camera when I come back.

Last Saturday we chance upon watching Valkryie at Suntec City Mall that has digital cinemas. The film was so clear from the usual and the sound was so perfect that you actually see it as real. Hubby and I liked the movie for it was done in a thrilling way. Tom Cruise delivered another good movie and his role was remarkably impeccable.

The movie was starred by Tom Cruise as Col. Claus von Stauffenberg, Kenneth Branagh as Major-General Henning von Tresckow, Bill Nighy as General Friedrich Olbricht, Terence Stamp as Ludwig Beck, and Tom Wilkinson as General Friedrich Fromm. Directed by Bryan Singer; and screen written by Christopher McQuarrie and Nathan Alexander. Theatrically released last December 25, 2008 and has a box office hit of $82,019,420. It speaks of the history of some German officers in their attempt to kill Adolf Hitler in 1944 and bring down Nazi regime led by Col. Claus von Stauffenberg. They tried to use operation Valkyrie as contingency plan to control the country. The movie offers suspense, thriller and drama.

When power leads man toward arrogance,
poetry reminds him of his limitations.
When power narrows the areas of man's concern,
poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of his experience.
When power corrupts, poetry cleanses.
For art establishes the basic human truths which must
serve as the touchstones of our judgement.
The artist. . . faithful to his personal vision of reality,
becomes the last champion of the individual mind and sensibility
against an intrusive society and an offensive state.
- John F. Kennedy, 35th USA President

Photo taken last February 08, 2009 outside Asian Civilization Museum along Boat Quay, Singapore.

I always asked this question, “Do we really need to celebrate Valentine's day with special someone?” I just don’t get the point of celebrating Valentine's on the 14th day of February even thou I grew up and educated in an all-girls Catholic school and know the reason why and the relevance of it and it’s all because of St. Valentine. Still I find it hard to understand why.

Did St. Valentine said that we have to give flowers, cards and chocolates to our significant others? Or it’s just the highly commercialised world that dictates us to do so. I myself is not celebrating the Valentine's day. When I was in my primary and secondary years we were obliged by our teachers to make a Valentine card and gave it to someone special like our parents, sister, and grandparents and what-not. But after those years I didn’t write or do something that has relation with the Valentine's day. I just do get the fact that people are so busy buying things or making some kind of activities for that day like having dinner with candle light or what have you. I remember the traffic in Manila and Makati during Valentine’s day, that was extremely unbearable. And there are lovers all around and bet you’ll see women holding flowers and a teddy bear or chocolates on their hands. What’s the fuss? Do valentine's day only for couple? How about the single men and women? Ask them how’s Valentine's day for them and they’ll just going to tell you it’s just an ordinary day, no special reason to celebrate.

Don’t get me wrong here, there’s nothing wrong with it. In fact I love to see couples having a celebration or a feast. But I just find it odd when people go ga-ga over the Valentine's Day.

Now, tell me do we really need to celebrate Valentine's Day with a significant other?

Have you ever experience something that almost crushed you to the ground? Something that you dread not to come has finally come into existence. That you thought this will only happen in your dreams or shows that you watched. And you can’t even think of something that can get you out of that situation. A defenceless in you.

That nobody wants to pull you out of that ground where you stumbled and fall. No brave soul was willing to raised you from it. And then you uttered, how could they? You want to get even but you thought of it, it will bring no good. Nonetheless you let the world know that you’re still at your composure. That everything seems fine and perfectly well. But the last thing you knew it’s chaotic. Everything was out of control and that you were no longer in control of your life. The hell on earth. How could you get out of it? Restless, confused and in misery you started to shut yourself to the world. You are yearning for answers but you can't find one. Be at peace to find focus and regain what have lost was the first thing you ought to do. And then you started to figure out how to escape from the damnation you wedged with.

Badminton. The sports that hubby and I enjoyed playing the most since we were single and up to now. Since my mother was with us hubby and I grab the chance of playing badminton. And last Saturday we were able to play for the first time after our last play a year ago back in Manila. We played at Arnold’s place, hubby’s officemate. We had fun playing with some of Arnold’s friends. We had four round play of mix-double. After a tiring yet exciting badminton play we ate a very sumptuous snack cooked by Jheng (Arnold’s wife), a pancit-palabok and ginatang halo-halo (mixed fruits in sweet coconut milk) – both Filipino dish. Thanks Jheng cooking and preparing the food, it was so filling and super delicious. Until the next game guys.

Maintaining the balance in our married life is one of the things we are taking care of and playing our favourite sports helps maintain the balance. Playing badminton is something that hubby and I want to do after a busy week of doing our role as husband and wife and as parents so to speak and we both find enjoyment and satisfaction in it. The pleasure it gives is incomparable not only for our relationship but for ourselves as an individual. And at the same time it’s one of the venues to interact and mingle with friends.

I was tagged by Jac but this time it's a photo tagged.

Here's how it works: go to your Picture Folder on your computer or wherever you store your pictures. Go to the 6th Folder, then pick the 6th picture in that folder. Post that picture on your blog and the story that goes along with the picture. Tag 6 other people that you know to do the same thing and leave a comment on their blog or an e-mail letting them know you chose them.*

And here's mine:

This shot was taken by hubby last June 13, 2008 just outside National Art Gallery in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. A weekend we spent before I go back to Manila. It was our first time in Kuala Lumpur and we end up going to this place after a coffee conversation in Starbucks at Suria KLCC Mall.

And now I'm tagging Ionnie, Wenny, Mabelle, Bhing, Jen and Chris.

We just had a simple dinner celebration at our place for our third wedding anniversary. I cooked beef lasagna which hubby requested then prepared honey back rib, some garlic bread, muffins and soda. And bought him something as present for the big day. Another special day to be thankful for. A celebration of our life and our love.

Today, hubby and I are celebrating our third (3rd) wedding anniversary. The day that we say "I do" and makes a lifetime commitment. I didn't expect anything from him since we already set our celebration, an out of the country vacation. We will be going to the beach on the third week of this month. But last night, hubby handed me flowers, a Marks & Spencer Belgian chocolates and moisturising body lotion. I was surprised and never thought of receiving anything from him.


My heart and soul was delighted with this. Of the thought that even thou he was so busy he manages to prepare all of these. It was an exuberating feeling of love and bliss.

To my husband, thank you so much dear for loving me this much.

Every time February comes I always remember one of the topics told to us by my professor back in college and since February is commonly associated with love because people are celebrating St. Valentine’s Day. In one of our discussion in Physiological Psychology our professor told us that it’s our hypothalamus that tells us that we love someone not the heart. Would you agree?

Here’s the thing, the hypothalamus is located just below the thalamus; that plays a central role in controlling our autonomic nervous system (ANS), and is responsible for regulating homeostatic metabolic processes in the body. Examples of which includes eating, drinking, sexual behavior, general arousal, copulation, temperature regulation, maternal behavior, activity level, the sleep-wake cycle, emotional regulation of rage, embarrassment, escape from danger in “fight or flight” responses, aggression, and pleasure. There are hormones secreted by the hypothalamus and one of it is the oxytocin, known to play a role in both romantic love and female lactation.

So it’s appropriate to say, “I love you from the bottom of my hypothalamus!”

Another part of the brain that has something to do with the emotion is the amygdala. Amygdala is an almond shape part in the brain located deep within the temporal lobes, medial to the hypothalamus and adjacent to the hippocampus. That is responsible for cognitive processes, formation and storage of memories associated with emotional events, arousal, controls autonomic responses associated with fear, emotional responses, and hormonal secretions.

Have you ever wonder if your amygdala is malfunctioning? What will happen? Thought of Joey Albert’s (Filipino music artist) song “I remember the boy but I don’t remember the feeling anymore”.

Does it make sense?

Last Saturday night after doing the grocery, hubby and I decided to watch The Reader (our second time watching a movie in the movie theatre here in Singapore). I have read the review but not really digging into it. The movie was starred by Kate Winslet as Hanna Schmitz, Ralph Fiennes as the older Michael Berg, and David Kross as younger Michael Berg. Directed by Stephen Daldry and screen written by David Hare. An outstanding performance by Kate though I’ am not a fan of her. She won the Best Supporting actress in motion picture at the recently concluded Golden Globe Award. It was theatrically released last December 10, 2008 on limited countries and had a box office of $9,661,121. The story was based on the bestselling German novel by Bernard Schlink that revolves on Michael Berg (Ralph Fiennes) that deals with his personal history and communal past.

The movie unwraps on the post-Word Ward II when ailing 15-year old Michael (David Kross) has fallen ill with scarlet fever and was found by Hanna Schmitz at the front door of her apartment where she was staying and nursed back to health. After weeks of being treated Michael decides to returned back and thank his compassionate caretaker Hanna and then later found himself sexually attracted to the lady which is twice his age and so their secretive passionate relationship started. Hanna would want to be read before they start making love. Enthralled by the, The Odyssey, Huck Finn and The Lady with the Little Dog, but soon their love affair ended after Hanna mysteriously leave Michael. Leaving Michael devastated and broken-hearted, he goes back to his normal life. Eight years after, Michael become a law student and saw again Hanna at the court room where they were attending a Nazi war crime trial. Hanna struggling to defend and protect herself decides to admit the crime that she was not authored after she was asked for a handwritten sample. Because she was wants to hide that she was functionally illiterate and it was known to Michael. She was sentenced for life imprisonment. While Michael (Ralph Fiennes) becomes a lawyer, married, has one child and then divorced. After paying a visit to his hometown he discover his notes and books which he began tape recording the books and sending it to Hanna. Hanna then learned how to read and write and later began sending letter to Michael but he never responded to her letter but continuously sends tape recorded books. Then in 1988 a prison official called him up since Hannah doesn’t have any relatives and that Michael is the only correspondent that she has. He was asked to support and help Hanna returned back to society. He pays visit before Hanna’s released and had a small talk. But the night before her released she hung herself leaving a note and a tea tin for Michael asking him to send the money to the daughter of the Jewish victim Ilana played by Lena Olin. Michael had a meeting with Ilana and told everything that he has with Hanna and giving the money but Ilana refused t received the money but kept the tea tin. Michael suggested to placed it in an organisation that will fight illiteracy placed it under Hanna’s name which Ilana didn’t questioned The film ended at the graveyard of Hanna with his daughter and began telling his secret affair with Hanna.

The film offers a lot to the viewer. The influence and affection shown by Hanna to Michael reminds us that in everything we do or say will have a great impact on the people we relate to. No matter how big or little it is and you may not even notice it but the fact that you have uttered and shown it to the people around you it makes a big difference. We should always be reminded to be careful and sensitive with the people around us. It also bounded on the ground of history and story. One needs not to become a master’s in history to understand the ignorance German people on genocide that was going on during the World Ward II that was symbolically portrayed by Hanna’s role. Another thing that the story was well noted for was the true love given by Michael to Hanna. That despite her being illiterate and what-not he still sincerely loves her until the end of it. A love that should not be put into question with. A love that the foundation was of sexual desires and literature and in his young mind he defines love in an extraordinary way. The movie was regarded as sexual awakening, psychological drama and love obsession.