It’s a rainy Christmas here in Welinngton, We start our Christmas day with a 11 pm pre-Christmas dinner at Tita Thess house by 12 midnight we went to St. Patrick Church in Kilbirnie for the Mass.

This is the second time I celebrated Christmas here in Wellington with my family and friends I still missed my parents in the Philippines and the way Christmas are celebrates in my country. I missed the “Simbang Gabi” (evening mass) , the food the “,puto bubong”,”bibingka” among others.

During the Dinner , The kids are very excited because of the exchange gifts that they are expected to received from their Ninong and Ninang (Godparents). I love the foods that Tita Thess cooked such as the Pancit, Chicken afritada, pork and chicken bbq among others.

In the morning of Christmas Day, my son and daughter are very excited unpacking some of the gifts that they are received from their Grandparents and friends. And tomorrow ,we are going to shopping because it’s Boxing Day..more sales and Big Discounts….

THREE days before Christmas we went to lightmastic that is located along Hathaway Avenue,Boulcott,Lower hutt to see the house full of Christmas lights and santa clause.

According to the owner,they doing that for over four years now,decorating the whole house of Christmas lights and Santa statues.

After that we also go to “Christmas lights spectacular trails” which you can see all the house along Rossiter Avenue,St. Ronans Avenue and Wyndrum Avenue are decorated with Christmas lights and my son and daughter are very excited.

Tonight, me and my family will spend “nocho buena” (christmas dinner) at Tita Thess house with some of my friends to celebrate Christmas

But tomorrow is Christmas day and spend your time with your family and loved one and for me we will have a road trip going to paraparumu by train and we will ride a ferry at the Queen Wharf to Matiu Island.

This special festive greeting is coming to you today. To wish you all the Happiness that Christmas can bring your way. And as the special Day draws near and excitement fills the air. May all the season’s joy Be forever yours to share…Merry Christmas and Happy New years to ALL.

“We the undersigned readers of The Dominion Post strongly object to the slaughter of whales in the name of “research” and urge the Japanese Government to abandon its abhorrent whaling programme”.

Yesterday, I’m 2337 who signed an online petition urging the Japanese Government to abandon the slaughter of 50 threatened humpback whales, 50 endangered fin whales and 935 minke whales.

Signatures had come from UK, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Italy, UAE, china, Netherlands, Switzerland, Ireland, Finland, and Germany among others. As a massive campaign launched by Dominion Post and the Prime Minister Helen Clark’s supports the campaign to stop Japanese whaling.

I’m supporting this campaign as Whaling commissioner Sir Geoffrey Palmer branded Japan killing whales under the pretext of scientific research , amounted to commercial whaling in drag .

We have to stand up and fight for the rights of whales to live a normal life and preserve what we have so we can show to the future generations how beautiful the whales are.

It is my opinion that the moratorium on commercial whaling must be maintained and the scientific whaling loophole that is exploited mainly by Japan should be closed. Commercial whaling brings no conservation benefits to whales or the oceans whatsoever and the while the IWC is distracted by an increasingly polarized debate over commercial whaling,some whale populations are slipping towards extinction.

Do you want to say something? Add your voice. Write to Japan’s ambassador to New Zealand Mr. Toshihiro Takahashi.

Embassy of Japan, PO BOX 6340, Wellington or email him at japan.emb@eoj.org.nz

Go to www.dompost.co.nz to sign the online petition calling for a halt Japanese whaling programme.

Before the Christmas shopping rush buying some gifts to my family and friends last December 15, me and my wife as our weekly date, we went to Basin Reserve to watched “Carols by Candlelight”with my two kids. Hundreds of people walking toward the main entrance of basin carrying rug,picnic hamper ,blanket , cushion, picnic type foods and even chair and traffic become chaos on that day.

The event is a great opportunity to gather with family and friends in a relaxed atmosphere, before the turmoil of Christmas just find a spot on the grass and put your chair and rug or blanket . It’s a night of joy and even the performers are having fun.

The show was started at around 8pm hosted by radio DJ Nick Tansley of More FM, the audience are very happy, cheering, clapping their hands and singing Christmas carols. My son,Michael Ivan noticed that band members are wearing a superhero costumes such as wonder woman, spiderman, flash, superman and batman among others.

There’s something classically elegant about a ramekin of creamy chocolate goodness at a dinner party. Your guests will love this melt-in-your-mouth dessert.

Serves 6-8

Ingredients:
3/4 pt (425 ml) single cream
5 fl oz (150 ml) Baileys
1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) vanilla essence
8 oz (225 g) plain chocolate pieces
5 egg yolks
1 egg

To serve: whipped cream, cocoa powder, brandy snaps

Put the cream, vanilla essence and chocolate into a heavy-based saucepan over a low heat and heat gently, stirring all the time, until the chocolate melts and the mixture is smooth. Allow to cool slightly and add your Baileys.

Lightly mix the whole egg, egg yolks and caster sugar, and then stir in the chocolate cream. Strain the mixture into eight 3 fl oz (75 ml) custard pots, or six ramekins. Cover with lids or rounds of tin foil.

Stand the pots in a roasting tin containing enough hot water to come half-way up the sides of the dishes. Cook at 150C/300F/gas mark 2 for about 1 hour or until they are lightly set. Remove from the tin and allow to cool.

Chill in the fridge. Top with a spoon of whipped cream and dust with cocoa powder. Serve with brandy snaps. This recipe was brought to you by Baileys and www.gdo365.co.nz

EIGHT days to go before Christmas but for people in Datamail last saturday is fun day for family and friends.

Me and my Family went to Datamail office to enjoyed the high temperature heat filled with fun and excitement activities for the kids and their Families.

Among the activities are the go cart which my wife and my kids enjoyed and carrousel’s.

Aside from that free ice cream, hotdog and burger for the kids and parents. The organizer also hand over some souvenirs from Mc Donald and free hamburger vouchers.