21:51 / Makati, Philippines

———-
I'm happy and distraught at the same time!

What to spill first? The former or the latter.

I choose the latter.

I wasn't able to buy that Goyard pouch! AAAAAAAAARGH!!! My heart hit rock-bottom because it's now a goner. :'( I just thought that the pouch would look magnificent in my hands or should I say, perfect for my cellphone. Hahaha (Superficiality!!!)

But to be honest, something much more grave bother(ed)s me. This bitch in our office actually did something audacious. The nerve! But, to be honest, it was quite expected. I mean what do you expect from a whorrific connasse? People like them feign innocence and their silence is the biggest give-away to their twisted horns. However, like what I've said before, I'M SOOOOOOOOO BACK and I'll give you a taste of your own medicine! Harharhar I'm going to play your own game :D

Anyway, as for the former (lolz), auparavant, j'ai déjà discuté la necessité d'avoir une portefeuille. Finally:

I so love this monogram European checkbook and card holder!!! (Okay, okay, technically speaking, the name is as such but it's also built for bills so, it's a wallet!!! lolz)

Hahaha I can't help but have a picture avec ma nouvelle acquisition:

Just being ridiculous. :D

I've noticed a slight difference in the heat stamp of this wallet to the Saumur I've got. This one has a small 'f' for the 'made in france':

Then I recalled that items made during the late 80s usually exhibit this one:

So that's April 1988... can you imagine, this wallet is 20-year and a month old??? I was just three years old when this fucking wallet came into this world! Hahaha Amazing LV (and the hands, of course, of the previous owner). As for my Saumur, it was AR 0986.. so that makes it August 1996... hmmm... still it's very functional and I so LVOE them!

But I also noticed a slight difference between the flap in the picture of this nouvellement acquis portefeuille in my LV catalogue and the one I have:

Maybe it varies through the years as they have also modified the date code 'sequence' and the 'made in France' stuff.

Still, I love, love, love my growing LV family (hahaha Family??? There's just two of them! But to be with company can be considered family... yeah right! REASON OUT!!! lolz)

I guess there won't be any addition in the coming days AND I COMMAND MYSELF NOT TO BECAUSE I REALLY NEED TO SAVE UP!!! (Save up please, Bry, go and save up!!!)

Kudos to me as I was able to live up to my promise that I'll have an LV before May ends and look at that, not one, but two!

Thank God for my French! God bless us all! ^_^

P.S.

This day is extra special because the battle is over. I mean I'm okay with my very good friend now. Love you Ikle to pieces!!! ^_^

xoxo

Bry Dee

Saumur - França

Nossa descida rumo a Saumur foi super tranquila e o sol resolveu dar o ar da graça, isto porque Reims não é uma cidade que podemos chamar de ensolarada, na verdade é bastante acinzentada durante boa parte do ano (quando o sol aparece, sim, é lindo - e quente).

Levamos cerca de seis horas porque decidimos fugir das auto-estradas e pegar um caminho bem fofo pelos campos. A velocidade nessas pequenas vias fica em torno de 90 km/h (chegando em pequenos trechos a 110km/h), nada comparado com as autoroutes pagas do país. Muitas dessas estradas estavam sendo reformadas, por isso pegamos trechos bem lentos.

Num determinado momento, decidimos pegar uma outra estrada que nos levou às bordas do Loire (La Loire, em francês), o mais longo rio da França. A região para a qual fomos, chamada de Pays de la Loire (Países do Loire), possui um grande número de castelos e se destaca pelo charme das cidades que beiram o rio assim como pelos vinhedos e paisagens.

Les Troglodytes!

Antes da nossa chegada a Saumur nos deparamos com várias casas estranhas. Na verdade, eram grotas, sim, estamos em 2008 e ainda existem pessoas que moram em grotas. :D O charme das grotas é que são completamente adaptadas. Vimos inclusive varias delas ainda em construção. E ao conversar com amigos no nosso destino sobre as casas nas grotas, descobrimos que são conhecidas como Les Maisons Troglodytes.

Na região, é possivel não só visitar algumas casas trogloditas como inclusive comer em restaurantes de mesmo tema. Infelizmente não podemos visitar nenhum dos dois, pois como disse, fomos numa época em que esses sítios turísticos estão fechados.

Castelos

Esta é a vista da cidade de Saumur do outro lado do Loire. Encantadora! Esse castelo que vocês estão vendo nas fotos (Le château de Saumur) está em reforma e não é possivel visitá-lo. No entanto, fizemos uma longa e gostosa caminhada para chegar ao seu cume para ver o castelo e seus arredores de perto.

Romântico, não?

Para não dizer que a viagem à Saumur foi em vão, passeamos bastante pela região e encontramos inclusive um castelo aberto para visitas. O Château de Brezé, construido entre os séculos XI e XIX, é conhecido por possuir um castelo sobre outro castelo. Explico.

Além do castelo visivel, existe uma imensa construção subterrânea que te leva a um mundo completamente diferente. Lá encontramos uma incrivel vila troglodita subterrâna com direito a padaria, pressoir (local para esmagar as uvas) e les foudres (onde o suco da uva é guardado e fermentado com a finalidade de tranformá-lo em vinho). Muitas partes do subterrâneo ainda não foram exploradas, por isso em alguns lugares existiam placas proibindo a passagem.

Levamos mais de uma hora para percorrer todo o trajeto. Olhando a foto acima, não dá para imaginar que ao redor do castelo existe o mais profundo fosso (seco) da Europa. Dezoito (18) metros de produndidade cavados pelas mãos dos trabalhadores desde 1448. Pedras que foram tiradas deste fosso, serviram para construir o castelo que vemos na superfície. Incrível, não?

Ao sair do castelo de Brazé fizemos um passeio nas pequenas vilas ao redor de Saumur. Encontramos um outro castelo também fechado para visitas, mas com uma bela vista para o Loire: O Château de La Dame de Montsoreau.

Nossa volta para casa deixarei para um próximo post...Este ja está enorme! ;)

• A palavra em sueco do dia é slott [slót], castelo

21:54 / Marikina, Philippines

———-

Yatta! (I'm gonna use that a lot from now on!)

I thought that my date of regularization would start this June 3 (as that would mark my sixth month), but as I Was approached by Ms. Ingrid to sign a paper regarding this, I noticed that I completed my probation period since the 16th of May!!!

Wow! I made it! Yatta!!! Funny how time flies so fast! I'm now a full-pledged employee of Thomson Reuters!!! They made me submit a form for my Medicard (in which both Mama and Papa are my dependents) and I'm now eligible for that medical/dental/optical reimbursement! (I can now have my eyes checked and get very fierce eyeglasses! Hahaha) I really waited for this one and I know since then what kind of frame I should be sporting. ^_^

Also, ironically, I'll be getting rice allowance!!! Hahaha So funny because I DON'T eat rice at all (since August 2006 and is one of the greatest trivia about me). Yehey!!!

I also recently got my Louis Vuitton Catalogue!!!

The pages look fierce! Hahaha And the best thing about the catalog is it's written in French (and English of course) and it actually gave me a push to brush up on my vocabs. I came to realization that I'm beginning to suck on my French and I should be enriching it, OKAY!?!?! The same thing goes for my Italian, as I don't use Italian in my work (hell-o??? I'm a French specialist).

Occasionally, I use it when some people at work can't understand anything about the shit that they're doing involving texts from Italy or the person (or answering machine sometimes) speaks rapid italiano. But I really want to use it. I remember during my last semesters in college that I sucked big time in French because I have lots of Italian subjects (and I could pass up for an Italian major).

Yesterday, my manager approached me (and Faye) regarding our firm assignments for this month. She mentioned that someone from Cardiff is taking care of the Italian firms but my manager thought off of getting some Italian firms for me because it might be too much BUT I begged her to please at least give me 1 or 2 firms to work on because I REALLY want to use Italian as well!!! Wahahaha I know, it's beyond my work description BUT who cares, I would just have to treat it as practice. Voglio utilisare questa lingua nel mio lavoro!

Wait, wait... few days ago, I stumbled upon this Mini Lin Saumur:

Exact Saumur that I got!!! (Only that it's Mini Lin and mine is in Monogram Canvas... I really shook the idea of buying it off BECAUSE: 1) It's also a Saumur, 2) I should try to save now and 3)It's not water-proof!!! Hahaha Seriously, I'm restraining myself now to buy bags because I really need to save up!!! At this point, I need a wallet, and maybe that's the last thing I might buy come the 28th then, possibly, a hiatus on spending would follow thereafter. Hahaha

I'm gonna send my nephew to school this June and I'm quite excited because I'm actually supporting him! ^_^ So stop being frivolous and start getting practical!!! Or a little practical and less frivolous (whatever!). Bottomline, decide well.

I'm also starting to learn Japanese. Hahaha Yep! JAPANESE!!! I'm a bit excited about this because I'm quite motivated now (unlike years ago when I was not so into it). As much as I want to regret not pushing through with that exchange student program to Kyushu University, I have to accept that it's O-V-OVER!!! I'm young and I could go wherever I'd like to go as long as I work hard for it! I vow this day, the 24th of May (and oh, it's the birthday of my beloved friend Johan! Joyeux Anniversaire mon cher ami!), that before I turn 25, I must be able to express myself in 5 languages!!! ( I already have four: my mother tongue, English, French and Italian) Japanese is the lucky 5th! ^_^

Okay, prior to learning this language, I conditioned myself to forget the shit (rules, grammar, structure, whatever) I've learned in learning Romantic languages. So basically, I must be very open in learning this language!

To be honest, I fear the characters... just reading how many set of characters I have to learn is very dreadful. But English isn't that different, there are still lots of things to learn but I can already communicate in this language, why? Just learn the essentials, and take it from there once I get the hang of it.

I hope this is not another case of ningas cogon, hahaha But I believe that I'd be able to sustain it. I wish (really interesting) French and Italian materials (especially videos) would be available for me to devour. And it won't hurt as well if I have a French or Italian crush with an Ikuta Toma-ish caliber... I don't know if THAT won't make me motivated! Hahaha

I'm not really that into the French culture (I remember sleeping a lot during my French 100 - French Civilization and History (?) class - as presided by the handsome but boring Manu... mais je 'tadore, toi!!!) and I'm not really that fond of French music as well. I remember being so interested with Italian culture because I love Rinascimento! I love reading about the Vatican and the biography of Michelangelo and Leonardo as well as how he completed the painting in nella Capella di Sistino.. wow! Plus Signora Adesini is REALLY a great professor. I never felt intimidated about her Sicilian beauty because she's really cool. And I see her quite a lot though I'm already working because we work-out in the same gym and she told me that she's no longer my professor as she always prompts me to speak Italian with her, NYAY! How I wish French visiting profs are like that as well (but our homegrown French profs are the bomb! And REALLY FABO AND FIERCE!!! I love Paris Hilton! Hehehe)

As for Japanese... hmmm... lots of cute guys! Hahaha

I really hope I could improve on these and learn more and whatever... I really, really want to do loads of things... BUT I'LL ENDURE! I'm confident about it. ^_^

I promise, that I'll stop spending much and start saving up AFTER I get my hands on a fierce wallet. Hahaha

And finally, I have already watched the season finale of GOssip Girl.. I love Blair as usual and I hate DAn... HATE HIM A LOT!

xoxo

Bry Dee

Ich meine, dass das Kino 5 Säle hat, alle ebenerdig mit bequemen Kino-Polstersesseln.

Die Preise sind sehr französisch, das bedeutet pauschale 8,00€ immer und für jeden, Ermäßigungen gibt es nur für Knirpse unter 12 oder so. Und das Ganze bei freier Platzwahl.

Adresse:
15, quai Carnot
49400 SAUMUR

keine Homepage

Bisher in diesem Kino gesehen:

Cercle 2, Le (The Ring 2)

Constantine

Die Hard 4: Retour en enfer

Harry Potter et l'Ordre du Phénix

Kingdom Of Heaven

Melinda et Melinda

02:11 / Marikina, Philippines

———-

I'm so lucky to be part of the best team Thomson Reuters could ever have in our group!!! Hahaha

Unexpectedly, (well at least for Faye and I) we were part of the best team for the month of March. How cool is that? The cooler part is there's cash incentive WHICH made it possible for me to have this:

Oh my gosh!!! This is it!!!

I said to myself that I won't let the month of May pass without having "something":

Presenting, my first LV : the Saumur!!!

Yay! What I love most about this is the fact that I CAN FREAKIN' USE IT!!!

The best part (still) is that I got it at a very acceptable price, it's quasi vintage yet functional and still in the fiercest condition there is. Hahaha Love the date code, love the heat stamp, love the fact that it's authentic!!!

I finally have an LV! I finally have an LV! I FINALLY HAVE AN LV!!!

Who needs a boyfriend when you got your Louis with you?

I'm thinking of buying that Tod's wallet. It's brand-new, complete with the box, dust bag and everything BUT I believe I'm getting way overboard and spending a lot... not practical given the present economic condition. Mama even told me off (not exactly off) and reminded me that I should save up. I have "savings"... or should I really stop spending much now (much being the operative word)...

...

...

...

WHATEVER! Hahahaha

But seriously, I MIGHT pass up on this for the meantime.

LV is LVOE!!!

I should be freakin' happy today, the 14th, and NOTHING'S GONNA BRING ME DOWN. DAMN!!!

And update before I sleep, just finished watching episode 17 of Gossip Girl (Woman on the Verge) and how I wish I have friends like them! Blair still is my most favorite. True friend but worst enemy, beat that! Cat fight next week in the season finale! Woohoo!!! Gossip Girl is LVOE!!!

xoxo

Bry Dee

Chenonceaux, Villandry, Saumur, Amboise - all taken using an Ensign Selfix 420 with Velvia 100 ASA 120 film, scanned and post-processed in Picnik.

In the past three months, I have sampled a grand total of 34 wines. WOW.

21 rated A or B. A or B = Gooood.

13 rated C or lower. C or lower means pour it straight down the crapper and then hit yourself w/the bottle for wasting $10 on plonk.

For review, my selection criterion was PRICE. I began with the intention of buying wines $15 or under, but (at least this first quarter), I have chosen wines averaging $10 or less. After 34 bottles, you can perhaps understand why. Being a wino is expensive. BUT B/c of all my hard work, YOU need not shell out a fortune for a chichi vintage to impress your friends. I have found some fabulous wines at rock bottom prices. So w/out further ado, my first quarter TOP TEN LIST:

[In no particular order]

Domaine La Hitaire
2006 Les Tours
FRANCE

10.5 % alc/vol, 750 ml

Pale yellow color with a subtle aroma.
Well balanced, with low acidity and very little aftertaste.
Smooth and understated, with hints of citrus, peach and apple.
Makes a great choice for people who don’t normally care for whites like Chardonnay because of their intensity.
Light, crisp and super easy-drinking.
A - /B +

* * * * * * * * * *

Chateau La Grange de Grenet
2005 Bordeaux
FRANCE
12.5 % alc/vol, 750 ml

Dark cherry color, bouquet hints of cherry, raspberry and plum.
Well balanced. Good acidity, light clean finish with a subtle aftertaste of oak and ripe berries. All-in-all, a very lovely, highly drinkable wine. AND CHEAP.
Highly recommended!
A -

* * * * * * * * * *

LELIA
Garnacha 2005
Carinena, SPAIN
12.5% alc/vol, 750 ml

Deep plum color with faint fruity aroma.
Subtle taste; berry, fruit and wood notes.
Well-balanced, with very low acidity & very little aftertaste.
Tastes full in mouth, goes down verrry smooth.
Excellent.
A -

* * * * * * * * * *

Entremonts
Garnacha 2006
SPAIN
13% alc/vol, 750 ml

Deep garnet red color. Lovely ripe cherry/berry flavor. VERY CHERRY.
Very well balanced, low acidity, smooth finish.
A light, easy-drinking wine.
Overall, excellent.
A -

* * * * * * * * * *

Saumur
2006 Lieu-dit Les Epinats
FRANCE
12.5% alc.vol, 750 ml

Medium golden color with a NOSE Forward bouquet.
Lovely fruit flavors, hints of peach and melon.
A well-balanced wine with very little acidity and NO aftertaste. YUM!!!
Clean, crisp and DELICIOUS.
A -

* * * * * * * * * *

Saumur
2005 Reserve des Vignerons
FRANCE
13.5% alc/vol, 750 ml

Deep plum color with a dry, lovely flavor. Hints of ripe berries, plum.
DELICIOUS! Well balanced. Smooth, round, w/ perfect finish. Little to no acidity. No aftertaste.
Wonderful wine - perfect with food or without.
A .

* * * * * * * * * *

Valley of the Moon
2005 Zinfandel
CALIFORNIA
15% alc/vol, 750 ml

Dark garnet color with bouquet of ripe fruit.
Deep cherry flavor. Good body, well balanced.
Sweet & delicious, but not cloying. MMM MMM GOOD!
BUT STRONG, so watch out.
As a side note: This wine gave me strange, vivid dreams.
A - /B +

* * * * * * * * * *

Tapena
2006 Tempranillo
SPAIN
13% alc/vol, 750 ml

Beautifully clear red with pronounced cherry aroma.
VERY pleasant taste of ripe red berries and cherries.
Smooth, silky finish. Easy drinking w/ low acidity. Appealingly light.
Absolutely delicious.
A - /B +

* * * * * * * * * *

Staete Landt
2005 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
NEW ZEALAND
14% alc/vol, 750 ml

Pale golden color and Strong aroma of fruit.
TASTES absolutely delicious! INTENSE FRUIT FLAVORS, Hints of citrus (grapefruit) and peach.
Well rounded. Low acidity.
I LOVE THIS ONE.
Highly recommended.
A -

* * * * * * * * * *

Pietrafitta
Chianti Colli Senesi 2006
San Gimignano, ITALY
13% alc/vol, 750 ml

One of the best wines yet.
Deep plum color, bouquet of ripe red fruit.
Smooth and appealingly dry, with a soft easy finish. No pronounced fruit flavor or sweetness. Clean, very easy-drinking wine with little aftertaste or acidity.
A lovely wine from an exceptionally lovely village in Tuscany. And at $10 or LESS WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR??
A -

* * * * * * * * * *

Now that you have been educated in the art of cheap fine wine purchase, please spread the word to all those vineyards out there - worldwide - so that they may begin sending me some of their products to sample. I see people do this all the time on Book Review Blogs - asking for new titles, etc. And I am here to tell you, if you Send It, I Will Drink It. I will not be thwarted! After all, I could stop drinking, BUT I'M NO QUITTER. So if you have a particular vintage or cellar you would like me to critique, send some my way. My palate and my liver will do their very BEST. I promise.

Color: Medium Gold
Nose: Bracing and complex - green apple, lime zest, pineapple, under-ripe strawberries, honey
Palate: Medium-bodied, citrus freshness, river-rocks, piercing acidity in the midpalate
Finish: Fairly lengthy - tart, appetizing grapefruit and mineral water

A complex wine, not easy (for me) to like at first - but definitely finely crafted. A 'grower'. While I appreciate fresh acidity, this was straight-up sour right after I popped the bottle. But, even at 5 years old, the wine really rounded out over the course of a few hours, making me think it could use another 2-3 years to continue improving. With some air-time, it became more integrated and nuanced - especially on the nose. Stylistically, this wine must be paired with food you'd squeeze a lemon on - I could imagine it being magic with with fresh oysters and shellfish. A specialized wine, well done.

Nose: Red cherries, Autumn leaves, damp soil
Palate: Rollercoaster; Begins very broad and round, giving the illusion of big red fruits (like a big California Pinot), but transitions through the palate towards a leaner, almost bright finish. It never feels sweet, although as the tannins kick in later on the palate, the sweetness resides and the acidity plays the balancing role. Nice earth and fruit interplay.
Finish: Tobacco, very firm and vigorous.

Fresh and stimulating - but easy to drink. This Cab Franc displayed more earth and fruit than vegetables, and a mercurial palate. A great "gateway"wine to the Loire region. I would bet this will improve over the next 3-5 years in bottle as well. A perfect autumn lunch wine.

As we cycled along we got to thinking about some of the people we've met along the way, some that are truly inspirational. For example, Bruce, the 81 year old Canadian who regularly cycle tours around Italy, France, Spain and Germany with some friends. He was in Saumur on holiday with his daughter and son-in-law, and they had just spent the day cycling 40 odd kms around the vineyards. He looked as fresh as a daisy!! Today we also met an English couple, he a keen cycling enthusiast (60 to 65+), with hiswife who, after 40 years had just decided that cycling wasn't so bad after all! He was chuffed to bits, and they both looked incredibly happy and fit.

The cycling today took us out of the more touristy regions of the Loire and toward places where huge sand banks stretch along the river, often lined with great flocks of migrating birds. The villages are tucked in at the base of sheer chalky walls for some of this route, often with caves burrowed into the rock.

After lunch we said our goodbyes to the Loire and headed north; still into a rolicking head wind. Passed through some delightful rolling farmland full of stone mansions, working farms and late flowers. Skirted Angers as big cities are a nightmare to navigate and despite the wind, thoroughly enjoyed the undulating road and surroundings.

The day was made extra peachy by our first adventure into staying at gites (avoided until now because of our awful French). John bravely rang the bell and our gracious host and hostess were patient, kind, and very helpful. The house is an old mansion, and has gorgeous gardens...one of the best places we stayed: La CROIX d' ÉTAIN (http://www.anjou-et-loire.com/croix ; Jacqueline & Auguste BAHUAUD; 2 Rue de l'écluse - F - 49220 GREZ NEUVILLETel. : +33 (o) 241 956 849 - fax : +33 (o) 241 180 272; croix.etain@anjou-et-loire.com).

We've thoroughly enjoyed some R&R in preparation for our final leg up to Saint Malo where we are catching the ferry to Portsmouth on 3rd of October.

Following the cycle route we then headed away from the Cher (yes, John did all the jokes and the singing) and the Indre, back to the Loire. Next was a 14 percent climb (which we managed to cycle up) followed by an 18 percent climb - which we pushed our bikes up. Yes, both of these are indeed on the official cycle route. Gorgeous view from the top; crap decent into Saumur.

This farm is situated seven kilometres from the historic town of
Richelieu and is within easy reach of the A10 to Tours/Paris etc. It is one kilometre from the village of
Courcoue. The house on the farm has been completely renovated, rewired and re-plumbed. It has a new

kitchen and bathroom. All windows and doors are double glazed and we have also installed a new wood burning stove in place. 

The house, which was originally built about 20 years ago, is flanked by woodland. In terms of size it is 100 sq. metres, which includes a huge living area with open plan kitchen. 

The house, like the farm, is very much a blank canvass which you can reshape to your own taste. All the land adjoins the house, something which is difficult to find in this part of
France.  

On the land is a large paddock which is enclosed by the circular gallops. That gallop is at least four furlongs in length. The soil type is sandy and this allows horses to be worked all year round.  This contrasts sharply with some farms within five km that have heavy clay soils, where in winter the horses are up to their hocks in mud and in spring /summer they find themselves battling with rock hard ground conditions.  

The previous owner was a trotting horse trainer, hence the gallops. The immediate area is a mixture of pasture land and wood land with a lot of sandy trails useful for horse riding exercising. 

I can introduce you to horse vets and farriers etc. and various types from the local horse fraternity- both French and British. 

If you have any further queries let me know. You can ring me on 02 47 98 38 60. There are direct trains to
Tours or you can drive down easily from
Paris.  You may think the farm is not the English person’s dream home, that cut- stone farmhouse etc. But that vision of ex-pat bliss is very costly to renovate. This is something most Brits discover AFTER they have bought their  property. This house on the other hand is immediately habitable complete with in-built kitchen, cooker etc. Planning permission for  14 stables was granted to the previous owner and is very easy to re-establish. 

I can show you this property at any time over the next month as I am resident in
France.  I am selling direct to the buyer therefore avoiding costly estate agent’s fees. By going directly to a notaire the potential buyer will save approx 10,000 euros.