tropicalpenpals.com A UK - Philippines family

Today is an odd day.. i went to work as usual. Although the job i was doing was based on a 4 weeks on going contract something odd occured. 3 days ago the guy I work alongside meantioned the fact that the position i was in used to belong to a guy who got fed up of only working 2 weeks a month. So i thought not a lot of it just the fact that surely they will let me know so i can look for another contract if that was the case. Anyway.. arrived today checked the overtime for Saturday and Sunday.. wala.. nothing
asked the line manager why there is no overtime, answer maybe there will be some next week. So i thought ok, the job im doing is pretty crap.. dirty, horrible messing with toxic chemicals. So i rang the agency asking why there was no overtime because of the fact was told there was lots. Answer.. ill call you back. I setup everything ready for work and then the agent rings back saying there maybe overtime next week but they havent confirmed ANY hours for next week yet. Bearing in mind over the last 2 weeks ive learned that they are busy at the end of the month and quiet at the start. You can guess what was happening next week which they hadnt bothered to let me know.. yep your right!! they were just going to dump me in it and just say no work available. So i thought two can play at that game and left. The guy im working alongside is in Dublin until Tuesday day shift has already worked (who do have overtime this and every weekend due to being permanent) and the night shift will be fired like me asap.
I just dont understand the logic of these companies, because they struggle to get people to do the job then they go out their way to rub people up the wrong way. Ive left them with a shift load of car parts that wont be completed on time for Monday so they can kiss goodbye to the end of month push for work out the door. Theyre now behind. All for the sake of telling lies.
I dont expect them to be honest but i dont expect to be dumped in the crap.. they had no intention of letting me know to line up other work they were just going to leave me high and dry. Thats my rant for the day. Spent all afternoon sourcing my next job. Just keep pushing!

This is something that im trying as hard as possible to get away from. Since ive now started a job thats afternoons but not exactly the nicest of jobs I end up at the end of the night with aching bones, wet clothes and tired. But if you like me are serious about living in the Philippines.. it all has to be done today..as soon as you get home etc. Because otherwise what happens is you delay, today becomes tomorrow and tomorrow becomes the next day. For me its pushing through with business and developing things to make life easier for the future. Juggling time that isnt always mine lately due to working 7 days a week. One thing is for sure you will like I come across many brick walls not only with problems where you least expect them but also from fatigue, worry and sometimes stress.. all things I dont suffer when im in the Philippines but here in the UK its very dog eat dog. Always looking for new openings for business but headaches I generally find come from my ex-girlfriend who seems to blow hot and cold this week hot enough to burn. Talk of cutting me out of my daughters life and just plain stubborn. The damned if you do and damned if you dont always springs to mind due to me trying to be fair but its all one sided especially for fathers here. Getting back to the point of this part of the blog. If you are going to meet your on-line girlfriend,future wife,friend.. decide today dont wait I will tell you why.. those days turn to months then into years and before you know it you have wasted a lot of time. With me and April I kept having to put things off due to work commitments new contracts starting etc. Which went on for months until a couple of things happend that made us both commit 100% realising that we need to meet.. We talk every day on the internet on the phone, emails if we arent around.. there can only be one thing we had moved from friendship to love and it had become very serious for both of us. So do the same because if you dont you will never know and if your looking to retire to the Philippines get a holiday out there asap and start looking where to plant your roots while you are still working. Will give you a chance to pick where you want to live and also get the wheels in motion. Just a thought

This section is an idea im starting with quite simply because I want to prove that people can make a business in the Philippines and I also want to show its not easy but its not impossible!

First things is to decide what markets need you most and what the competition is doing right and wrong. Currently farming is an oddball for me but im trying to understand it more. Primarily im looking at cattle namely goats. But will look at other options too once I have this off the ground. Why I choose goats over other stock..simple answer I dont know. I think I just like them but not only for the fact they have character but also they are good for meat, cheese, milk, yoghurt, butter, ice cream. Aswell as being pretty hardy. The setup costs are pretty steep but the rewards seem to be to by what ieve seen with other breeders. So watch this space. Will be bringing photographs of the goat house being built including sketched plans and things to look for.

Clothing,
the Philippines is full of clothing factories and designer brands can be picked up Levis in Manila or even picking up Bench clothing in the malls. Either way you can make a killing on the prices. If your heading back to your country of origin would advise asking a few relatives what they want and making a few ££s on the stock.

Soaps, jewellery and other crafts. This market is awash worldwide but the problem with Western shops is they are overpriced many may say greedy but if you see the business rates,taxes rentals you can understand why. A necklace can be purchased for less than £1.00 but similar can be seen in the UK for £7.00 a little bit of networking and a mail order site could work out to be a small gold mine in your favour and hopefully mine. Something thats under development at the moment.

These ideas are all in some stages of being formed or built..

The final main one which is primarily based for the Philippines only is Property, buy,sell,rent me I believe in buy,buy,buy never sell. Rental markets are cheap in the Philippines but the prices are starting to rise. Many people are asking why things are going up. Ive give a bit of thought to this and there are several reasons rent and land is going up. Many overseas workers are starting to get older and wanting to come home and the Philippines wants them back. So there is one group of people with the money and rights of ownership. Next group of people are like my wife and me. Mixed couples we can afford to buy land and build. But looking to speculate so we can live in Cebu full-time without the worry of trying to find work. Rents are always in demand if the price is right. The final group are Retires looking for a good standard of living for the right price and who can blame them. Many have suffered with the drop of the dollar but it also made me wonder if people are feeling the pinch more in the U.S. maybe the numbers of Retires are increasing too and not only from the U.S. more people are travelling to the Philippines worldwide. A popular destination in the UK is for the older generations to head to Spain for the winter due to saving on the heating bills. But in recent years the land prices have rocketted so where might some of these people now be looking??
Property will always be a winner 110% just keep a legal eye on what you can own. This will be something me and my wife will be sharing with you over the next several months as we start building our home.

Its 2.36am on the 27th of Febuary a month a way from the first meeting online of me and April and also March will bring the birth of our daughter. Its a time of reflection on now and then.
Knowing that in the year that past we had many trials that not only showed who we are but how much we mean to each other. A tower of strength when we needed it most. Much of the last year I would like to keep personal. But I can say that its the way April is that showed me what ive missed most of my life, even as I am here in the UK working to buy our lot and push sell some of our goods everyday my wife is there before I goto work and wakes up as I get back to my parents. Listens to the bad day ive had which currently have been a blur of one after the other recently.
But a warm smile and seeing my wifes bulging tummy just lets me know everything is worthwhile. There may be something better round the corner with work with luck, but its the people I see in front of me that mean the most. Life can be hard but the love of a strong woman goes a long way.. Im pretty happy, and content
only things keeping me on edge are the complications this year is bringing as we start building our home and the start of our family. Is getting enough money to return home to the Philippines. Im looking at around P1m to take home.. which will build a couple of houses and buy our lot and hopefully see us through the winter. Time to pull the stops out and push for more.
Im just lucky I have a wonderful woman as my wife.

Cebu has many places to eat varying from good food down to bland. Generally the food isnt amazing but hey your not paying heavy prices either.

Jollibee logo

Jollibee - everywhere (junk food)
Fast food there is always the faithful Jollibee which is a food chain that originally began with an icecream parlour and leaves McDonalds standing in the Philippines not only for food quality but variations. You can get a much larger selection of food in Jollibee including burgers,hotdogs and side orders of fries or rice. Price wise if you ate here 3 times a day you could for less than $4.00 but meat quality isnt the best 4/10
McDonalds is around and ive come across 2 stores in Cebu but the food and service were poor to say the least.

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Tequila Joes - Ayala (Mexican food)
I like this restaurant. Food is pretty good in line with a British Pub grub. Its a mexican themed restaurant and has live music in the garden area at the back. I would advise anyone in Cebu to go there at least once. Its in Ayala Mall and even offers a delivery service. 7/10
Telephone :-

AA BBQ - Minglanilla (mainly seafood)
Serves juicy chicken and pork BBQ best eaten with the special salad served for free. Salad is a mixture of tomatoes, onions, green mangoes, in a special vinegar dip. A glass casing shows several raw seafood items which can be cooked/grilled at your request. I love the Calamari and you will find me at AA BBQ regular. Yes because I like the food and also because its near enough opposite my house. The building is traditional styled but the chairs are plastic Patio sets. But the food is always good here and I find the manager at the Minglanilla branch helpful and pleasant. 7/10

Sunburst - SM Mall (general restaurant)
The food here is fairly good no complaints staff are efficent and I generally have a curry here. Although its not to the same quality as the UK curry houses it does give me a fix of a mild curry. We normally have Calamari as a starter which is also very good. 6/10
Bigbys - Ayala (food from around the world)
Food here was great although the service was a little slower than other restaurants. But this could have been due to the volume of customers there. The food was good and tasty. They also serve Osterich which is really good and I would recommend here for a meal. 7/10

Kenny Rogers - Ayala (chicken house)
Food here is ok, service was slow and items missing from menu. The grill was smoking too much. Took 3 items off the menu to get one in stock and ended up with some of my order missing. Food is ok but its not high on my list to busy and quality is better elsewhere. 4/10

Grenwich - Giasano Fiesta (Pizza house)
Pizza here is ok I know some of you may disagree but we arent in the U.S. and the food stocks are very different here. But generally I love the pizza! The menu is fixed with a few varieties and pricing is cheap. There is also Spaghetti available and if im in the mall in the morning and hungry this is where you will find me. They do a mix meal which has Pizza,chicken drumstick and spaghetti really cheap. Spaghetti tastes cheap but I like it and like most things in life you get what you pay for. 6/10

Dessert Factory - SM Mall (general)
Food here is reasonable and pricing is ok. Service is reasonable. Food took a little while to come from the kitchen. Restaurant is ok wouldnt rate the design highly more of a diner than restaurant. Also ceiling unfinished with ducting exposed. 6/10

Today is Sunday..First time since I arrived in the UK I said to hell with it and rested.
My daughter Nicole stayed over last night so missed a shift at work. But spending time with Nicole is priceless also puts the value of life back into my head.. no point having a heartattack from a tired body working to death. Children arent only your future but its the fact they see the world through different eyes. Pure with honesty and hope. Even when things are really bad a kid can be made to smile so easily. Im greatful for Nicole and the daughter my wife is about to give me. One thing is for sure im lucky. My work maybe hard and my body weary.. but i have 3 wonderful females in my life keeping me in stead.

Almost at the end of the first week of work and boy do I feel it.. blisters on my feet.. cuts on my ankles and not a single muscle that isnt aching.. 34.. feel like 84 Im over in the UK working while my wife April is sat at home awaiting the birth of our daughter. Its difficult to make a living in the Philippines and hard to compare that one weeks salary can be as much as half a years earnings in RP.
Although day to day costs are low in the Philippines setting up for moving there permanent is a lot more.. Lots to do and a lot of time apart which is something im finding very hard right now. We are in the process of securing our first lot.. (Property lot area of around 400sqm). Which will hopefully in the not to distant future be housing a few apartments for rent.

How to get from A to B well at the moment its all pie in the sky.. with bits working and bits not. Lots of business ideas and will keep trying until things start to work.
For anyone looking to move to the Philippines this will be a place to watch to see how things develop over time.
To prove it can and will be done..

thats me for now..

take care..