I finally decided to take...

... the doctor's advice and began a swimming/hydrotherapy

program. I wasn't very excited about it but then I met my

instructor...and he's such a nice person that I immediately 

changed my mind!

[Swimsuit made by Libelinha]

Thank you Pedro and mum!!! ;)**

This conch shell is the only souvenir...

 ...I brought from my vacations in the Philippines! 

At the last minute my camera broke down and I lost all my 

photos... just had time to buy some postcards at the airport.

Pareo made by Libelinha and hair claw also a gift from her.

[Philippine's pictures credits: wonderful engineering]

My grandmother has a new chicken...

...and called me to go there and meet her!

I wanted her to lay on my lap, but I guess she just found

a faster way to get to the food! :D

-"She's so sweet, buelita!"

check-up day

I have nothing against the national health service, but I like 

to go to this private clinic...it's like a tiny hospital... we do

 everything there, including exams, it's specialized in women's 

health, we feel almost like we're at a spa and it never takes too 

long! Actually this time it did take a little more, because my 

doctor had an emergency!

Apart from a small back problem, everything is fine with me! ;)

I went mushroom picking last weekend…

...and found some huge amanita muscaria, well known

for their toxicity; I'm making pickles but using a specific

technique I learned at Nagano with a japanese master.

Did you know the white spots may wash off with heavy

rainfall? We have to be extremely careful with this...

[rain cape and new skirt made by "mum" Libelinha:

http://www.libelinhadesign.com/]

Mail day

I went to the post office last Friday to send my Christmas
cards and a package (fortunately I had extra wide tape a friend
gave me!). Whenever I step through my neighbor's fence
Brownie, his dog, comes "to say hi"! ;D

My grandmother's gift

Yesterday was my birthday and my "buelita" (I started to call her 

"abuela" since I took spanish at school) invited me to dinner. 

She had a gift waiting for me: a cork handbag. :)

I have to go back there soon to fix those yellow lights she 

has at her home!