Once in my life I met an Angel... from that moment all changes.

The 8th of March 2017 at the airport in Manila I touched her hand for the first time. Looking into her sparkling eyes in real felt like an earthquake in my stomach. My heartbeat run faster. If we hug for the first time I got goosebump all over the body. My brain stopped working. Only deep emotions overwhelmed me. That must be the feeling if you come to paradise.

A few weeks ago after long time looking for love in internet i met a very special woman on a dating site. It needs gain a few weeks until we chatted for the first time. Very fast she asked me if I want see her on cam. And before I could answer I saw her smile on the screen of my laptop. Wowww!

It started an intense conversation for a couple of days. Soon I realized that this woman who fascinate me every day is a gift from heaven I waited for such a long time. I want meet her as soon as possible. It should be fate that I bought the flight ticket to Manila before I met her. So it was easy to have a first date in real only 5 weeks after the first talk online.

It starts nervous feeling. Growing day by day until reaching the airport in Manila. I couldn t wait for my suitcase. An endless time felt these few minutes before I was able to hug her. I didn t see the people around us. Only the sparkling Angel in front of me I saw. I melt looking at her smile. It felt like the first sunray in the morning. Crazy that her whole family was around her. But it doesn t matter now. The life stand still at this moment. There are only that Angel and me.

Since this day nothing in my life is like it was before. I  enjoy every day as a wonder. This Angel I met become the queen of my heart. The meaning of my life become a new image. The name that is branded in my heart is Sheryl.

The travel of love goes on. And every morning I wake up I feel I was born to love this sparkling Angel. To take care of her and create a heaven for her is all I want. Let's see if it runs ...

Hey Disney, my dear friend.

This is our fourth Friendversary. Although it may not sound like we know each other that long and we are often apart, but it does feel like we know each other very well.

We first met in college, when we were still rather immature. Back then our main goal was just to study, have good grades and proceed to university. It was tough, considering the intensive nature of the program. But, we survived. That 9-month program was really tough, but at the end of the program, I realize that we have grown in terms of knowledge and mentality.

You used to be the best company for me, whenever I felt unconfident and doubtful about my skills. I truly appreciate how you pointed out the fact that I can achieve anything I want if I stop caring that much about others’ view. Your companionship and encouragement really gave me the courage to step out of my comfort zone and try new experiences. Without you, I would still be the nerd that has problem talking to others. Without you, I would not have so many exciting experiences in life. Without you, I would not be able to endure through the hurdles in life.

Currently, we are both fighting for our future. You are pursuing your dream in the film industry while I am working hard for mine in psychology. The path to our dreams could be challenging at times especially when we first came to this new place. We serve as each other’s support. You are always there whenever I need someone to talk to. We would spend an hour or two texting about life and feel recharged after the conversation.  

I have so much to write to you. We have lots of memories together. We understand each other’s needs without having to saying it out explicitly. You will not look down on me whenever I go out with a budget in mind, since you understand the challenge of living on a tight budget. I feel free and relaxed in our interaction since there is no need to put on a mask and act perfect.

It has been four years since we knew each other. I hope that our friendship will remain as we progress in life. I also wish you all the best in life and always have that smile on your face.

Thanks, Disney.

North East Ambulance Service staff and volunteers touch the lives of thousands of lives every year, making a real difference every day.

In the last year alone they:

• answered over 1 million emergency 999 and NHS111 calls 
• responded to almost 300,00 incidents that resulted in a patient being taken to hospital 
• treated and discharged 24,000 patients with telephone advice
• treated and discharged 92,141 patients at home
• completed 717,315 patient transport journeys
• volunteered more than 195,000 hours

Despite receiving 793 appreciations so far this year, much of our work goes on behind the scenes.

And this work doesn’t stop over Christmas, as they continue to work alongside emergency service and NHS colleagues throughout the region around the clock to keep the North East public safe.

This is our opportunity to say a small thank you to the people who answer your 999 and NHS111 calls, who dispatch our crews, who come to treat you and/or take you to hospital, who make sure you get to your hospital appointments, who keep our vehicles on the road and the back office staff who support the frontline.

Please feel free to leave a comment below to add your appreciation.

Dear Mum and Dad

There are no words to describe what you mean to me, There is no way to repay what you have done for me, There is nobody that could ever replace you both, There are no regrets about being your child, There are no memories that are without you, I’m sorry if I ever made you sad or disappointed, I’m so sorry that spent your money, I’m so sorry that I got mad when you wouldn’t let me do something that I wanted to do, I’m sorry for the things that I can’t remember. 

I just want to say a massive thank you and a massive sorry. I have one last promise for you.

I will make you proud one day I swear.

Father, you're everything to me....

We’ve never been a nuclear family. At every stage of my life, there was somebody extra with us.

I must tell you that I always enjoyed living together with a large number of family members rather than suffering a congested life in a nuclear family.

I believe that senior citizens contribute a lot to socializing youngsters, and it is typical to Asian culture.

In my childhood, three of my maternal aunts lived with us. My mom, dad, my younger sister, three aunts and I… Oh, wow! What a large family we had been!

And today, my kids too enjoy the pleasure of living with their grandfather. We make a lot of fun and enjoy the life with them.

Five years ago, my mom left us forever. She was my role model and one of the most dedicated ladies I’ve ever seen in my life. She sacrificed her happiness and tried hard to make us happy. She suppressed her hunger and fed us with what she had. She wore cheap, non-attractive dresses, but provided us with beautiful things to wear. When poverty stroke us violently, she stood up like a pillar of stone that nobody could ever topple. She was the heroine in our lives.

But, those days are gone by. Now she’s no more. She passed away leaving a lonely, desperate feeling in my heart. It took me a few years to get rid of the nostalgic feelings that incessantly beat me. To be very frank, in the recent past, my dad was not so intimate a guardian as my mom had been. My parents were not happily married and always had something to argue about with each other. Dad was very hot tempered and we were afraid to speak freely with him.

But, things began to change quickly. After mom’s death, he became softer and softer. He stopped blaming me and my kids. He stopped finding faults with meals and ate whatever was given to him. Nobody knew the reason for his sudden change and it’s still a big dilemma to me. Most probably, it may be the self-realization. Perhaps, he might have thought of filling the gap my mom had left us with.

Yes dad, now you’ve become a perfect fit to take her place. For me, you’re one of the most precious things in this world.

I’ve gone through a variety of bitter-sweet circumstances in my short life span and become a grown up woman now. But, still you take me to be the same small child. You protect me and my kids and provide us with what you can. Most of all, I can never forget how you help me in cooking. You are an excellent cook. You often sees faults in the food cooked by others as you know how to cook better than anybody else!

I see many good qualities in you. We can never even imagine the strength and courage you have. Recall how you built our house all by yourself. Nobody was there to give you a helping hand. Not even I. You were such a good mason.  You made everything to make us comfortable. Some of our neighbors say that you can surpass even young men when it comes to working. You are such a giant at hard work.

Sometimes, I am amazed at your perseverance. You never give up. You often need to end the work you once started. You never leave something unfinished.

You are a huge tree that always give us shade and protection. And I’m just a twig in it. And your eternal young look is a gift given by God.

May you live a long happy, healthy life!

We all love you dearly, dad.

I would like to write this tribute to my mom. Of course all moms deserve tributes because they give so much of their own to others; but I think my mom deserves a special tribute.

I’ll start with saying that she and my dad have raised ten kids; and of course, we are all very grateful to her and Dad for everything they’ve given us (which I think I can say is everything we have – a lot!), there is something in particular that Mom has given us that not everyone is blessed with.

I remember it very early on. She would do little things that at the time seemed perfectly normal, but when I look back I can see how exceptional they really were. Things like browsing garage sales for old books, reading these books to us for hours on the couch, taking us to the local library for arts and crafts, the list goes on… I guess when I write these instances they don’t seem special or extraordinary in the least, but there is a theme that runs through everything she did then and continues to do now for my younger siblings, and it goes something like this: first, when you do something do it with your whole heart, give it everything you have; second, do something worth giving everything to. Mom gave all her energy to something she believed in: family. Specifically in showing her kids what is important in life; and while arts and books don’t scream essential at us, they do represent something that doesn’t come from many other places. Life should be full; and a full life needs those things that are valuable, not because they give us valuable things, but because they’re just valuable in themselves. Things like family and culture.

Mom showed us the value of living for culture and family by how much she would try to give us these, even (ironically enough) to the extent that she would even forego the rewards of a family life or a life of culture: things like a little free time or pleasure. She never said “enough” and believe me she could have said it many, many times. Any time there was an opportunity to do something extra or something that she thought that we would get something out of, she would go for it; even when it meant more of her time and energy lost.

So Mom, thanks for all the happy memories I had growing up, but especially for those times it may not have been so easy: when you were exhausted and thought you had no more to give; but still gave a little more; or for those late nights spent doing some things you had no time for during the day; or for worrying about us that I always thought was annoying at the time, but now I see the love in it. Because the times when things are hard and life really happens are the times we see what people really are made of, and that’s just another thing you taught us.

Thanks Mom.

If anyone had told me, even six months ago, that my view on love and relationships would change, I would have laughed in their face.  All of my friends and family will tell you that I was cynical, jaded and absolutely, unequivocally done with relationships.  I am famous, among my peers for lines such as:

All people in relationships have one foot out the door, some just don't know it yet.

Perfect for me?  Is he duct taped in the corner and not breathing?  Then he is not perfect for me.

When asked what I want from a relationship, my general answer was "Usually Out."  During this time of relationship loathing, I was asked to drive a man to his home one day.  I thought nothing of it, simply was following a friend's request.  As always, this man too began to flirt somewhat, and asked me questions, like would I attend a blues bar with him if here were to ask one day, etc. etc.  I dropped him off and carried on about my world.  I ran into this man a few times during the next few months.  I would of course be cordial, and even sat and had a drink with him on a few occasions.  As is my style, when I was ready to leave, would make some excuse, or even lie that I would be back - and ditched for home.  

I found myself thinking about this man from time to time.  I was completely and thoroughly disgusted with myself for even finding the man attractive, much less pondering about him.  I even found myself returning to the same pub I seemed to run into him at, only to remember that he lived elsewhere most of the time.  Nowhere in my brain, did I consciously think that I was "interested" in him or that I would even say yes if he did ever ask me out.  However, on a memorable Friday night, not so very long ago, I found myself with friends in that very same pub.  I glanced to a table by the door and noticed that the friend he usually met was sitting there alone.  Much to my surprise, I found myself somewhat excited at the prospect that this man was perhaps there again to meet this same friend.

Within ten minutes, and to my delight (sigh), I watched as the subject of my thoughts sauntered in.  I quickly (and with no clue as to why) went over to the table, and said hi to him.  I invited them to join our table at the other end of the pub.  To make matters even more puzzling to myself, when they did not immediately jump up and run over to join us, I went back and invited them again.  My girlfriend (well aware of my avid repulsion for relationships) looked at me like I was an alien, as I shuffled our table around to include the two men, now joining us.  Ironically, we were at a "Singles" event, so she really wondered why I was inviting these men over.  

The evening progressed in it's usual style, laughter, light flirting and great conversation.  When I was ready to leave, this man of my thoughts, who has suddenly materialized again, offered me a ride home.  Instinct assured me, I was safe to accept and I so I did.  He was a perfect gentleman

Nobody can take your place……

Years pass. You grow taller, stronger and smarter than ever. You fill me in with lots of new hopes day by day. But, my endless worries grow. What will our future be? Will I be able to stand the rough winds and torrents of dust that always try to sweep us away? Sometimes, I fear that I’d lose you just as I lost many happy things in my past life? I pray to the mighty Gods. Oh, God! Don’t take my only bliss and consolation away from me. What I need is to keep you attached to me until the day I die. I love you my beloved kids. You three are the most precious things this life had ever given me.

I have faced a lot of hardships in my life. The worst of all is the treachery of your father. Remember how we felt when we first discovered his extra marital affair. I still wonder how he could be so fickle and treacherous to cheat his own beloved ones. I collapsed and wept.

But, wondrously, you gave me a ray of new hope.

“Take courage mom. Why can’t we be happy without him?” Your question was very direct. And your voice was so brave that I almost shuddered.

Was he the same small boy who once used to cling on to my dress? I wondered.

“Let’s crack jokes, sing songs and do everything to make ourselves happy and relaxed just as we had got used to do. But, for god’s sake, don’t bring HIM back to your memory.”

You consoled me and made me courageous.

You were absolutely correct! Life was not so hard without him. We managed to live an even better life. And my two girls, you acted like my equals and raised me up. You gave me a helping hand to make up my mind. I no more repent over the past, because you are by my side always. I know how exceptional you are. In handling crucial issues of life, you’re a few decades ahead of me. I’m a mere child in front of your courage and endurance. Anyway, I’m extremely happy that you’ve reached such a state of maturity in your teen years.

I can still remember how you three played together as small kids. The two younger girls were toddlers then. Vimu, my son, you took the responsibility of a good elder brother and looked after them well. You just laughed off the hurts and threats of your two younger sisters and loved them dearly even when they were hurting you. Unlike most other boys, you never thrashed or hurt them. You endured everything for the sake of the whole family. In fact, you were more than a brother to them.

Everything I do, I do it for you since you are everything for me. I’m looking forward to your success and wellbeing. This world is vicious and destructive to the point of disgust. I have my fears due to that. The future is something uncertain and it’s beyond our perception.

The best thing you need to do is follow the righteous path. My prayers and wishes will surely illuminate your path. I know you’ll definitely follow my advice and become valuable citizens.

Love you all and press you to my heart forever!

What a grandfather is.

His name’s Italo, a characteristic name for a peculiar person, he’s my grandfather, and I love him.

He was born in 1931 and during the world war 2 he was the youngest and skinniest of his 3 brothers and 2 sisters. His own grandmother for that reason used to smuggle  an egg a day for him to drink it right away and quickly, hidden from his siblings.

He grew up in a poor family of farmers, and for that reason, since he was a boy, he developed a strong link to the sense of family, in particular to the kind of mutual help that becomes a must when resources are low and the mouths are many.

He worked in the fields until the age of 15, when he received a job proposal as an apprentice tailor 60 kilometers away from Asiago, his small hometown.  That was another defining moment of his life, as he found himself facing alone the unknown city and the unbelievable number of new faces that suddenly surrounded him.

He was courageous, and he was moved by the sacred flame of redeeming  the fate of his family, as many others did in those years, when people actually cared about providing and give back tenfold what they’ve received from their parents. That was because behind a loaf of bread there was a good measure of sacrifice, giving it a completely different taste, called VALUE.

His humble origins taught him another important lesson that has been handed down and still exists two generations later:

‘Never get angry, don’t get offended, put aside your pride, and you’ll be happy’.

When he gets to this sentence (quite often in his speeches) he does what every single grandparent does always, he starts with a story, and  nothing makes me happier than stand silent hearing it for the 100^th time:

“It was 1955, and me and Danilo (his eldest brother) had just moved to Turin to finally get a proper job in FIAT. We were living  close to the city’s centre, in a tiny garret and a month later that we arrived, we got our first salary.

In the two weeks before it, we were running low on food and that situation led us to decide that a well furbished pantry would have been a must as soon as we were going to get paid, and with those money, I went to the cheese maker and bought a monstrous wheel of cheese.

Cycling back home, at the last turn, I was almost run over by a tram, I stopped in time, but the cheese rolled over the bike and ended up being split in two under the tram’s wheels.

I didn’t care about public judgement, so I walked where the omelette was and I picked up the remains of it.  When I got back home, I hadn’t only a story to tell, but also a good chunk of cheese to savor with it!”

He inspired me with this and many other stories into finding the right dimension to live in, and as he did, I followed his example, and left my house to have a look at the world.

Grazie nonno Italo!

She is truly a blessing to her very huge family. She has lived long enough to see not only her great grandchildren but also four great-grandchildren. Raising 7 kids on her own through severe hardships alone makes her a very strong woman and God indeed has blessed her for she has lived and still is living long enough to enjoy the fruits of her hard work.

I remember the day we all went to visit our grandmother for blessings, the Kenyan way. Yes people do that! It was a beautiful morning and everyone was excited about the day’s activities. I knew that I would finally get to meet almost all of my relatives because well, this was partly a get together.

We were supposed to meet at noon, have one huge lunch meal for one huge family, and make merry with our grandma as we, the little kids, played all over the compound. Everyone was able to arrive by 3 o’clock, (African timers is what they are called?) and catch up as we enjoyed the nyama choma, ugali, pilau, among other Kenyan delicacies with music playing in the background. It is a good feeling knowing that one person, our amazing grandma, made it all happen.

The darkness started kicking in and after a bubbly afternoon with family and relatives it was now time to ice the cake, receiving our blessings. It is such a big deal getting this kind of blessings from an elderly person especially if they are related to you. We believe that old people can either bless you or curse you so it is appropriate to treat them well and blessings will come your way.

We all gathered in our grandma’s compound, everyone excited as we all listened to her speak to us words filled with wisdom and a lot of cognition. She made us laugh amidst her prudent recitation and everyone seemed attentive to avoid missing a thing.

She then asked for a glass of water: she would use this for the blessings. She would put some water in the mouth the spit it on everyone’s arms as she murmured some words. It may not be anyone’s preferred way but it is what it is! Saying that she is a blessing is not just a bluff because the number of people that turned up for that occasion was quite large and they were just not random people but her generation.

I remember how it felt like: I was scared and delighted at the same time as she spat the water on my little arms and despite my young age I still vividly remember all that went down that day. After she was done she prayed for all of us and people started leaving for their respective homes.

That was many years ago and now I am all grown, a proud grandchild and I pray always for God to continue giving you the strength to keep going and to see your generation grow bigger. Being the age that you are and having your own support you the way they do is something that a lot of people don’t have and wish to have.

You are the reason we are united because that is what you taught our mothers and fathers and it’s the same way they brought us up. I admire your kindness and compassion that is immeasurable and will extend the same kind of love to my generation to come.

I am grateful for you and I pray that you live long enough to receive more blessings and see more of your generation. I love you grandma.