Camella's Mega Manila Launch

Last night, April 10, 2015, I was invited to the spectacular Camella's Launch of 5 New Mega Manila Projects with an aggregate of 5.6 billion pesos.

This makes Camella, the most preferred housing brand in the Philippines constructing over 300,000 homes in 34 provinces and 76 cities and municipalities all over the Philippines and having the widest geographical reach even greater.

 The event was hailed by Vista Land Chairman Senator Manuel "Manny" Villar Jr. and other top officials.  He promises that this year "2015" will be the year for Camella Homes as they will be launching projects 3x bigger than their previous biggest.
 

Camella Verra Metro North in Valenzuela

Camella Verra Metro North is 10-hectare gated community is located in Bignay, Valenzuela  – 20 minutes from SM Fairview, schools, restaurants, banks, transportation hubs, and places of worship. It is accessible via NLEX Meycauayan Exit, Novaliches Bayan via Bagumbong Road, Novaliches via Damong Maliit Road and NLEX Paso de Blas/ Malinta Exit.

Camella Alta Silang in Cavite

Camella Alta Silang with its unique cool and refreshing, peaceful and relaxing 20-hectare resort-community can be reached via Aguinaldo Highway, and the soon-to-open Cavite-Laguna Expressway, Carmona Exit, and through Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay Road.

Camella Sierra Metro East in Antipolo

Camella Sierra Metro East, a beautiful nature-inspired flood free community with uphill and downhill Mediterranean-styled homes, is along the tree-lined M.L. Quezon Avenue, in the crossroads of Antipolo and  Teresa in Rizal, and only 25 minutes from Ortigas CBD, this highly accessible, secure, and well-designed 8-hectare development features a lush expanse of green, hundred-year old trees bamboo groves and a natural pond.

Camella Carson at Vista City in Daang Hari

Camella Carson at Vista City, where grown Acacia trees abound, is conveniently accessible via Daang Hari, which leads to more access points: Daang Hari Exit via SLEX to Makati; from Las Piñas to Alabang-Zapote Road via Marcos Alvarez Road; and from Manila to Coastal Road via Molino Boulevard.

Camella Belize at The Islands in Dasmariñas

Camella Belize at The Islands provides value-for-money living with a well-designed masterplan of St. Paul College Island Park inside the community as well as other amenities.

The 5 new projects: Camella Verra Metro North in Valenzuela City, Camella Carson in Vista City at Daang Hari, Camella Alta Silang in Cavite, Camella Belize at The Islands in Dasmarinas (Cavite) and Camella Sierra Metro East in Antipolo will uphold Camella's community-building masterplan.  In addiition, it has a 5-point advantage: Excellent Location,
Convenient, Safe and Secure, Wise Investment and Affordable and value-for-money.

Each site will have facilities like clubhouses or function halls, swimming pools, play courts, playgrounds, parks, walkways and jogging and biking paths.

While, each house-and-lot model: Fatima, Gavina, Carmela, Carmina (Downhill/Uphill), Carina, Drina, Dorina Uphill and Elaisa still promises the self-contained security ad comfortability for you and your family.

Fatima

Gavina

Miss Teen Earth and Little Miss Earth Philippines 2015

Showcasing beautiful young Earth champions with an equally beautiful and worthy cause, it is once again time for Miss Teen Earth and Little Miss Earth Philippines 2015.

Now on its second year, Captured Dream Entertainment promises an even better and brighter show to the already world class pageant.

Watch and see how these 20 young ladies and 20 young girls, all sharing the passion for preservation, conservation and the protection of our Mother Earth become its active guardians.

By the end of the first leg of the activities in April, each candidate will return to their home town to initiate their chosen environmental advocacies.

Then, they will once again return to Manila for their coronation night to be aired in GMA-7.

See Image Gallery Below for More Photos on Miss Teen Earth and Little Miss Earth 2015 Launch:

Stronghand Shooting Range: First Time Shooting Experience #showyourguns #iamstronghand

Have you watched the movie "Bucketlist"?  Inspired by that movie, I have one of my own too.  But, mine has a twist: Someone else has to initiate it so I'd appreciate it more and I don't get tempted to cross them all out so easily.  It has long been on my bucket list to try gun shooting.  Finally, the day has come when little sister and I went to Stronghand Shooting Range to go for it.

Coming from faraway (Manila area), we were not familiar with the place so we passed by it without realizing and had to make a U-turn.  Other than the signage, you can't view its store front because it is found in the basement.

After going through the squeaky clean staircase, you will instantly see the shooting range, the reception and their cafe. 

We were asked to register.  Range Fee and Firearm Rental for guest is 500 php and 500 php.

 There's a guideline of the rules and a waiver at the back.
 

They also offered courses (1,000 php) which was convenient for newbies like us.
 

We had the instant or quick The Proper & Practical Pistol Course which lasted about an hour by a certified NROI Range Officer and PPSA Member Benjamin Aura. 

 They have function rooms for groups so this is were we had our lessons.

We were provided a locker room which is free and inclusive of their rates so we could leave our stuff there before going in the shooting range.

We were assigned our own shooting kit which includes HS XP Point and Shoot Semi-Automatic 9mm Pistol (exclusively distributed by Stronghand Shooting Range), Ear Muffs, Eye Glasses and Toxic-free ammunition (30 php each).  You can bring your own gun but only their special toxic-free ammunition can be used in their shooting range. 

The shooting range is clean and has a special mechanism for ventilation.  That's another key to their toxic-free range feature.  There's a lot of slots too.  There's a color coded red mat so you know where you can stand, unload and clear your gun. 

The table there is anti-slip so everything you put there especially your gun and ammunition will not accidentally fall-off. 

We were also assigned our personal range officer who assisted us, made sure safety is in check and recorded our shots.  We had our 10 bullets at 5meters and then the other then at 10 meters.

So this is our score sheet.  I got a total of 76 points (A section = 5 points x 11, C section = 3 points x 6 and D section  = 1 point x 3).  I may not be a sharp shooter for this first time.  But, I didn't miss either.  Making 1 miss will cost you 10 points.  So if you have 5 misses that's an instant -50 points and it will be difficult for you to get reach the perfect score of 100 for a round of 20 ammunitions like ours.

We saw Robin Padilla's target board plastered on their memo board.  A little more practice and I bet we can all be as good as him right?

This experience taught me a lot.  I learned how to hold a gun, take a stance and shoot.   Seeing how guns are handled in the movies made it look so easy.  The HS XP Point and Shoot Semi-Automatic 9mm Pistol we used was one of the lightest guns because it was half plastic.  But, we both found ourselves quite exhausted after our round.  We both didn't give up though.  Even my little sister who is young, thin and frail did her best.  We were so glad we decided to take this challenge.  We feel so proud that we've accomplished this and now that we know how to handle a gun, we can use it to defend ourselves if necessary.  I'm sure fear and shock of it's weight and look will not be our impression upon holding one again but more of familiarity.
 

Fellow lady shooters, you can try visiting them on Wednesday to avail of the 50% off Guest Range Fee (so the 500 php will be 250 php)

Check out more information about Stronghand Shooting Range by visiting their website.

Care for Your Teeth Right: A Dentist's Guide

You know that you’re only going to get one set of teeth, and you don’t want to end up with implants or dentures. After all, that process really isn’t fun, even if it can save your mouth down the road. You want to avoid it if possible.

That’s why taking good care of your teeth is so important. While you probably know some things, there are lots of other tips to help you maintain a healthy mouth. Use these tips to guide you.

How to Brush

Most people brush in an up and down motion that isn’t good for the teeth or gums. Instead, brush in an upward or downward motion that helps the gums. If yours seem to be receding, brushing down can help that. Brushing up can help gums retain some of their firmness.

Always Floss

Flossing is something everybody should do but many people don’t often enough. Ideally, you should be flossing after every single meal and after you eat. However, if you can’t do that, you should be flossing at least once per night before bed.

Otherwise bacteria between your teeth could damage your enamel and gums.

Skip the Mouthwash

Mouthwash is an alternative to flossing and brushing, not a replacement. If you like to use mouthwash, look for an alcohol free version, and use it sparingly. You really shouldn’t be using mouthwash more than a few times per week.

Contact us to learn more about taking care of your teeth the right way.

iprice.ph: Top 5 Features of this New One Stop E-Commerce Consolidation Site

Perhaps, it's the intense heat and dry sticky atmosphere, the terrible unsolved traffic and price hike of our commute hubs that made me so lazy to go out to shop.  Good thing, there's online shopping for people like me.  As multiple e-commerce shops are sprouting about, the next thing I was asking for is one site to stop by where all the best deals are and that's when I discovered iprice.ph.

iprice.ph headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, now serves online shoppers across seven countries: Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Hong Kong, Thailand and Vietnam.

Here are the features I like in iprice.ph:

1. Searching by Brands

When shopping across the-commerce jungle where I can't physically try out or test the item, I have this wise tactic of sticking with my favorite brands to assure my satisfaction.  Good thing I can search by brands through iprice.ph.

2. Searching by Item Category

Next to brand searching, you can also select the specific item you need.  Rushing to buy a dress for a party?  Then, click on.  So easy right?

3. Search by Various Filters

Aside from lists, there are various filters by:

• Gender
• Item Categorizes
• Price Range
• Brands
• Store

 4. Save More with Coupon Codes and Offers

You can save more using different coupon codes and see good offers from iprice.ph partner stores.

5. Sign up on their newsletter for updates
You can be updated with the latest products and offers through their newsletter.

Love, Rosie (Where Rainbows End): My Book Review and Lots of Notables

After watching the movie “Love, Rosie” (as suggested by all my sisters) and loved it.  My little sister suggested I read the book as the movie is missing out a lot.  It took me a long time to finish it but as my little sister is always right, it is indeed one of the best romance book I’ve ever read.

The author of “Love, Rosie” is Cecelia Ahern.  She is also the author of "P.S. I Love You" which is set in Ireland too.  I also watched the movie of “P.S. I Love You” but it didn’t leave any lasting impressions upon me like this one.

As the book is so good, I just had to write about it and etch it as a milestone.

 The entire book is a documentation of correspondence or communication between the characters via email, letters, text, instant messaging, phone etc.

The main characters is Rosie Dunne and Alex Stewart.  But, it also has a mini story on Rosie’s Daughter Katie as well.  (This is not delved into in the movie).  Yes! Their story lasts that long that it overlaps with Rosie’s love story already.

The book opened my insights to many things and these are:

1. The hardship doctors go through.

Related quote from the book:
“College is a lot tougher than I thought it would be. There’s just so much studying to do; so much reading. I barely have a social life. I’ve got four years here in Harvard then I’ve to do about five to seven years in a general surgical residency so I’m estimating that I’ll be fully qualified in my specialized field (whatever that will be) by the time I’m one hundred years old.
So that’s all I do here. I wake up at five a.m. and study. Go to college, come home and study. Every day. Not much more to report really. It’s really tough. But then I don’t need to tell you that. I bet it’s a hell of a lot easier than what you’re doing right now. Anyway, I’m going to sleep now, I’m shattered. Sweet dreams to you and baby Katie.”

2.    How mothers sacrifice their life and dreams for their kids.

Related quote from the book:
Rosie: “Well I’m an incredibly frustrated woman right now. And I’m not “wasting” good opportunities; it’s called “presenting my daughter with new ones.”

3.    Anyone can make mistakes and we can’t judge them.  
I have to admit, I used to have a negative impression on people who go through double divorce.  I used to think they are not taking marriage seriously but perhaps, they are just lonely.

Rosie is smart yet she can’t seem to get her life right.  She has made a lot of mistakes.  As a reader, you can’t help but sympathize especially when:

• She got pregnant at 17.
• She got cheated by Greg and got a divorce.
•  She sacrificed moving to Boston to Alex for Katie to be with Brian the Whine.

Alex turned out to be a successful heart surgeon but the truth is his life is really sad and he can fool the world but not himself about it.  As a reader, you can’t help but sympathize especially when:

• He got married to Sally Gruber, have Josh and get a divorce.
• Marries Bethany, have Theo, get through 15 years of a miserable relationship (hoping to make it work until Theo moves out for college) and get a divorce.

I agree on these perspectives:
1.    “Age is just a number, not a state of mind or a reason for any type of particular behaviour.” 

Related quote from the book:
Ruby: “Katie is not going to go off the rails because suddenly she wakes up one morning and she’s 16. People do whatever the hell they want to do at any age they fancy. Last month you were 36. That means you’re 4 years from 40. Do you think that the day you reach 40 you will be any different than you were at 39 or 41 for that matter? People create little ideas about ages so they can write silly self-help books, stick stupid comments in birthday cards, create names for Internet chat rooms, and look for excuses for crises that are happening in their life.
For example the man’s so called “midlife crisis” is just a bunch of hype. Age is not the problem; it’s the male brain that’s the problem.  Men have been cheating since they were apes (insert your own joke there), since cavemen times (and again there) all the way up to now, the age of what is supposed to be the civilized man. That’s the way they were made. Age is not the issue.”

2.    “Parents are our barometers of emotions for children and it has a domino effect.”

Related quote from the book:
Rosie: “There’s something completely unnerving about seeing your parents upset. I suppose it’s because they’re supposed to be the strong ones, but that’s not just it. Ever since people are kids they use their parents as some sort of measurement for how bad a situation is. When you fall on the ground really hard and you can’t figure out whether it hurts or not you look to your parents. If they look worried and rush toward you, you cry. If they laugh and smack the ground saying “Bold ground,” then you pick yourself up and get on with it.”

3.    “Life deals each of us a different set of cards…”

4.    Human life is an irony in itself.

Related quote from the book:
Rosie: “Well we’re not exactly 20 years old are we?”
Ruby: “No thank god for that because if that was the case I would have to go through a shit marriage and a divorce all over again. We would have to go out and look for jobs, be all uncertain about our lives, care about dating and how we look and what car we’re driving, what music we’re playing in it, what we wear, whether we’ll get into certain clubs or not bla bla bla bla. What’s so good about being 20? I call them the materialistic years. The years we get distracted by all the bullshit. Then we cope on when we hit our 30s and spend those years trying to make up for the 20s. But your 40s? Those years are for enjoying it.”
Rosie: “Hmmm good point. What are the 50s for?”
Ruby: “Fixing what you fucked up on in your 40s.”


6.    A mother’s presence is important in one’s life. Rosie: “xxx Life is strange now. Before even when she lay in bed looking frail and weak she still managed to make me feel safe. Mothers do that don’t they? Their very presence can help. And even if I ended up mothering her in the final days, she still was taking care of me. I miss her.”

Moral Lesson of the Entire Book: 
Don’t Confess Over Letters No Matter How Beautifully Written!!!  Man up guys!

Alex wrote this letter to Rosie (her 30th birthday) and it was received 12 years later (she was 42 and Alex is married) due to interception.

“Rosie,
I’m returning to Boston tomorrow but before I go I wanted to write this letter to you. All the thoughts and feelings that have been bubbling up inside me are finally overflowing into this pen and I’m leaving this letter for you so that you don’t feel that I’m putting you under any great pressure. I understand that you will need to take your time trying to decide on what I am about to say.  I know what’s going on, Rosie; you’re my best friend and I can see the sadness in your eyes. I know that Greg isn’t away working for the weekend. You never could lie to me; you were always terrible at it. Don’t pretend that everything is perfect because I see what’s going on. I see that Greg is a selfish man who has absolutely no idea just how lucky he is and it makes me sick.  He is the luckiest man in the world to have you, Rosie, but he doesn’t deserve you and you deserve far better. You deserve someone who loves you with every single beat of his heart, someone who thinks about you constantly, someone who spends every minute of every day just wondering what you’re doing, where you are, who you’re with, and if you’re OK. You need someone who can help you reach your dreams and who can protect you from your fears. You need someone who will treat you with respect, love every part of you, especially your flaws. You should be with someone who can make you happy, really happy, dancing on air happy. Someone who should have taken the chance to be with you years ago instead of getting scared and being too afraid to try.  I am not scared anymore Rosie. I am not afraid to try.  I know what that feeling was at your wedding—it was jealousy. My heart broke when I saw the woman I love turning away from me to walk down the aisle with another man, another man she planned to spend the rest of her life with. It was like a prison sentence for me. Years ahead without me being able to tell you how I feel or hold you how I wanted to.  Twice we stood beside each other at the altar, Rosie. Twice. And twice we got it wrong. I needed you to be there for my wedding day but I was too stupid to see that I needed you to be the reason for my wedding day. But we got it all wrong.  I should never have let your lips leave mine all those years ago in Boston.  I should never have pulled away. I should never have panicked. I should never have wasted all those years without you. Give me a chance to make them up to you. I love you, Rosie, and I want to be with you and Katie and Josh.
Always.
Please think about it. Don’t waste your time on Greg, this is our opportunity. Let’s stop being afraid and take the chance. I promise I’ll make you happy.
All my love,
Alex”

Favorite quotes:

• “Our life is made up of time; our days are measured in hours, our pay measured by those hours, our knowledge is measured by years. We grab a quick few minutes in our busy day to have a coffee break. We rush back to our desks, we watch the clock, we live by appointments. And yet your time eventually runs out and you wonder in your heart of hearts if those seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years, and decades were being spent the best way they possibly could. In other words, if you could change anything, would you?  Everything is spinning around us, jobs, family, friends, lovers . . . you just feel like screaming “STOP!” 
• “Children need close friends to help them grow up, to discover things about themselves and about life. They also need close friends to keep them sane” – Well, not just children.  Adults like me too. =)
• “I’ve learned that home isn’t a place, it’s a feeling.”
• “That's what life is about: People come and go.”
• “There aren’t many sure things in life, but one thing I know for sure is that you have to deal with the consequences of your actions. You have to follow through on some things.”
• “what you don't know, you don't miss”
• “people who say its a long story, mean it's a stupid short one that they are too embarrassed and couldn't be bothered to tell”
• “You can run and run as fast and as far as you like, but the truth is, wherever you run, there you are.”
• “After all, soulmates always end up together. Silly Bethany won't even be remembered then. Ex-girlfriends are easily forgotten. Best friends stay with you for ever.”
• “Things change so quickly. Just when you get used to something, zap! It changes. Just when you begin to understand someone, zap! Xxx”
• “Note to self:  Do not under any circumstances fall in love again.”
• “Well isn’t that one thing you’re all the more wise for? Age has taught you something. It seems to me that you know the big secret. That nobody knows what’s going on”
• “Fairy tales are such evil little stories for young children.”
• “So I left my wonderfully intelligent family and soaked myself in the bath and considered drowning myself. Then I remembered I still had chocolate cake left over from yesterday so I came back up for air. Some things are worth living for.”
• “People can never own people but whether I can be with him or not right now, the answer is no. Not now. Maybe in another time.”
• “Marrying someone you don't love is not right.”
• “You can run and run as fast and as far as you like, but the truth is, wherever you run, there you are.”
• "Mistakes are the portals of discovery.”
• “xxx at the end of the day a missed opportunity is a missed opportunity. But don't worry; I think there's a lesson to be learned in all this.”
• “People come and people go and we know this happens, yet we get such a shock when it does.”
• “Why do we stop believing in ourselves? Why do we let facts and figures and anything but dreams rule our lives?”
• “The reality of life gets in the way and you’re hit by the realization that you can’t be all you wanted to be”
• “Good girls always come second.” 
• “expect the unexpected for once. Maybe this time you won’t get such a shock when things don’t go your way.”

Favorite Parts that I Suppose Made the Book Great:
1. The Innocent Friendly Flirtations
Related quote from the book:
Rosie: “I know what it is. You just don’t want me to be single because I’m a distraction to you. If I’m with a man then you think that perhaps you just might be able to keep your hands off me. I know deep down that’s what this is all about. I’ve sussed you out Alex Stewart.  You love me. You want me to have your babies. You can’t stand another day without me.”
Alex: “I . . . don’t no what to say . . .” << guilty lol
Rosie: “HA! Bloody hell Alex I was only joking. No need to get all serious on me. So tell me. What happened to make you change your mind about Bethany?”

2. Secretly (not so) hating each others spouses
Related quote from the book:
Rosie: “I ask you all to raise your glasses and toast my best friend Alex and his
new best friend, best woman, and wife, Sally, and to wish them luck and
happiness and divorce in the future.
To Alex and Sally!”

3.    The feeling of being in love (vaguely described not classified)

a.  By “silence” throughout the book

After the kiss silence between Alex and Rosie:

Convesation Between Rosie and Steph
Rosie: “I honestly don’t know what happened to me. I’ve been lying on my bed, staring at the ceiling ever since I got home trying to figure out what came over me. Was it something I ate that made me feel light-headed? Was it something he said that I could have misunderstood? I’m trying to convince myself that it was more than just the silence of the moment that changed my heart.
At first we had so much to catch up on we were talking a hundred words a second, barely even listening to the ends of each other’s sentences before moving on to the next. And there was laughing. Lots of laughing. Then the laughing stopped and there was this silence. This weird comfortable silence. What the hell was it?
It was like the world stopped turning in that instant. Like everyone around us was wiped out. Like everything at home was forgotten about. It was like those few minutes on this world were created just for us and all we could do was look at each other. It was like he was seeing my face for the very first time. He looked confused but kind of amused. Exactly how I felt. Because I was sitting on the grass with my best friend Alex, and that was my best friend Alex’s face and nose and eyes and lips but they seemed different. So who was this man that was sending my heart into a frenzy? So I kissed him. I seized the moment and I kissed him.”
Steph: “Wow. And what did he say?”
Rosie: “Nothing.”
Steph: “Nothing?”
Rosie: “Nope. Absolutely nothing. He just stared at me. Xxx”  
Rosie: “What the hell was that silence?”
Steph:“It sounds like something I’d like. It sounded nice.”
Rosie: “It was”

Convesation Between Alex and Phil
Phil: “What kind of a silence?” 
Alex: “Just a weird silence.” 
Phil: Yeah but what do you mean by weird? Alex: Unusual, not normal. Phil: Yeah but was it good or bad? Alex: Good. Phil: And that’s bad? Alex: Yes. Phil: Because? Alex: I’m engaged to Sally. Phil: Did you ever have “the silence” with her? Alex: We have silences ... Phil: So do Margaret and I, you don’t always have to talk you know. Alex: No this was different Phil. It wasn’t just a silence, it was a . . . oh I don’t no. Phil: Bloody hell Alex. Alex: I no. I’m all over the place. Phil: OK so don’t marry Sally. Alex: But I love her. Phil: And what about Rosie? Alex: I’m not sure. Phil: Well then, I don’t see a problem here. If you were in love with Rosie and not sure about Sally then you’d be in trouble. Marry Sally and forget about the goddamn silence. Alex: Once again, you’ve put my life into perspective Phil. << wrong advise lol!
 
After the Visit for Alex in Boston:
Ruby: When will it ever be the right moment for you? Rosie: When there’s the silence again. Ruby: What silence? Rosie: It doesn’t matter.

Before marrying Bethany
Phil: No they’re not but the intention should be there at the beginning.  Was there the silence thing with Bethany? Alex: Oh shut up about the silence Phil. Phil: You’re the one who’s obsessed with it. So, come on, was there the silence thing? Alex: No.


After Rosie’s Date with Adam (Mr. Perfect)
Julie: But it was only your first date. You can never really tell these things by a first date. What did you want, fireworks? Rosie: No actually, quite the opposite. I want silence, a perfect moment of quietness. Julie: Silence? Rosie: Oh it’s a long story. But last night only proves that you can put me with a guy that’s perfect in every way and too good to be true and I’m still not ready. Everyone around me needs to stop rushing me.

Chat After Alex was Busy with Josh
Alex: It wasn’t the celibacy I was referring to; it was the vow of silence that would kill you. Rosie: Funny. Well believe me Alex, there are certain kinds of silences that make you walk on air. Alex: That, I know.

Alex with Phil Conversation After Conversation with Katie
Alex: Phil she felt the silence too.
Phil: Who, what, where, when?
Alex: Rosie. She felt that silence too all those years ago.
Phil: Oh the dreaded silence thing is back to haunt us, is it? I haven’t heard you talk about that for years.
Alex: I knew I wasn’t imagining it Phil!
Phil: Well then, what are you doing talking to me? Get off the Internet you fool and pick up the phone. Or the pen.

Silence between Katie and Toby
 
Katie and Rosie Conversation
Katie: “Mum I don’t know if it was the wine, or the heat, the food, or just my hormones but there were some forces in motion last night. Toby touched my arm and I felt all . . . zingy from head to toe. I’m almost 31 years old and I’ve never felt that before. And then there was this silence. This really weird silence. We stared at each other as though we were seeing each other for the very first time. It was like the world stopped turning just for us. An odd magical silence. The very same one that you told me you had with someone all those years ago.”

Katie and Alex Conversation
Katie: “Mum told me about the silence she experienced years ago. She kept telling me when I felt that silence with someone, it meant they were “the one.” I was beginning to think she made it up but she didn’t! This magical silence exists!”

Silence at the ending
Of course after she had received it, it hadn’t taken her long to reply at all.  And as the magical silence once again embraced them, after almost fifty years, all they could do was look at each other. And smile.

b. Katie’s feeling for Toby
Katie: “xxx I’ve never felt so . . . odd in my whole entire life.  Forgive me for speaking like a 12-year-old but that’s exactly how I feel right now. Last night was the weirdest night of my life. Xxx We chatted and chatted and chatted for hours until well after we had finished eating and eventually we were asked to leave at 2 a.m. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so much in my life. We continued talking as we strolled along the beach and the air felt so magical! We talked about old times and caught up on new times.  Mum I don’t know if it was the wine, or the heat, the food, or just my hormones but there were some forces in motion last night. Toby touched my arm and I felt all . . . zingy from head to toe. I’m almost 31 years old and I’ve never felt that before. And then there was this silence. This really weird silence. We stared at each other as though we were seeing each other for the very first time. It was like the world stopped turning just for us. An odd magical silence. The very same one that you told me you had with someone all those years ago.  Then he kissed me. Toby kissed me. And it was the best kiss I have ever had in all my 30 years.xxx
Is that heart-wrenching stuff or what? My legs nearly buckled from underneath me. It felt so odd that it was Toby that I was kissing but in another way it felt completely natural and I think that’s what the odd thing was about it if you know what I mean.
We spent all day together again today and my stomach is doing somersaults at the thought of seeing him again tonight. I now know what all my friends were talking about when they tried to describe this feeling. It’s so good it’s indescribable. Dad kept teasing me for walking around with a silly grin on my face all day.”

4.    The reluctance to confess – prolonged the story


Related quote from the book:
Ruby: “Did you tell him how you—”
Rosie: “No! Why on earth would I do that? There’s no point. If I did that then I would lose him as a friend forever and then it would all be a waste of time. He has never suggested to me that he has ever felt that way about me; remember it was me that kissed him the last time. That was embarrassing enough once never mind having to do it a second time.  Anyway he is already with someone and even if it is slutty Bethany I couldn’t bring myself to do that. Xxx”

5.    The confession finally! (Delayed from age of 7 till they were 50!)

Related quote from the book:
“My dear Rosie,
Unbeknownst to you I took this chance before, many, many years ago. You never received that letter and I'm glad because my feelings since then have changed dramatically. They have intensified with every passing day.
I'll get straight to the point because if I don't say what I have to say now, I fear it will never be said. And I need to say it.
Today I love you more than ever; I want you more than ever. I'm a man of fifty years of age coming to you, feeling like a teenager in love, asking you to give me a chance and love me back.
Rosie Dunne, I love you with all my heart. I have always loved you, even when I was seven years old and I lied about falling asleep on Santa watch, when I was ten years old and didn't invite you to my birthday party, when I was eighteen and had to move away, even on my wedding days, on your wedding day, on christenings, birthdays and when we fought. I loved you through it all. Make me the happiest man on this earth by being with me.
Please reply to me.
All my love,
Alex”

Thoughts to pounder upon:
1.    If being in love a universal thing (relatable thing that’s the same for everybody)?  Like the silence?

• I really thought I’ve concluded that this is not so… But, now it’s another open case again for me because I know that feeling too…

Related quote from the book:
Katie: “xxx I now know what all my friends were talking about when they tried to describe this feeling xxx.”

2.    The feeling of being “in love” only lasts a maximum of two years.  And, in the book it was emphasized to be “in love” as differentiated from just love…

• As my good friend shared this fact and scientifically supported too, I once agreed to this.  But, now I’m curious as to what if it isn’t so.

Related quote from the book:
Alex: “I’m glad because my feelings since then have changed dramatically. They have intensified with every passing day. Xxx I need you more than ever; I want you more than ever. Xxx feeling like a teenager in love, xxx”