After TACLOBAN .....

After the party at the Alejandro Hotel in Tacloban, we had a ticket to Manila.
We had an invitation to stay a few days with my friends Michael and Dativa from Melbourne.
This was Aileen's first air travel and her first visit to Manila.

With a few hours before the afternoon flight with Cebu Pacific, Ai suggested we meet up with
two important people in her life, Lina, "Mom Lina", and Lina's husband, Jerry. Both of them has been teachers at Ai's college, and Lina is an organiser with the catholic church.

In short, we had a lunch, a tour of the Tacloban mamorial to General MacArthur and a quick hello to a priest at the local seminary who was just leaving for a conference which sounded less than interesting. Lina and Jerry then had coffee with us outside the airport.

The MacArthur monument is shown in some of the photos. The "I shall return!" promise was kept with Philippino help. Jerry discussed the hostility of the Japanese occupation....

Hope you like the gray velvet skirt?.........

Aileen's family!

In the historic Alejandro hotel in Tacloban, Aileen's parents and her young sister Raelene came to visit in the evening. We got a stack of nibbles including endless piles of chicken wings served in our room.
It was not easy for any of us. But with some smiles and some colorful balloons, it passed off in a friendly style. Aileen has been helping the family from her income. the family will miss that support. - but what was her alternative? There were no suitable men around in the town, and at age 24, Aileen needed to consider the possibility of marriage.
In the Philippines, women marry young.
In Aileen's case, she had a serious relationship which had broken up before marriage. She had not had any children.

James

Am I English ....or Australian?

Is it possible to be both......or neither.....or a half breed, having lived for many years in both countries, at different times.

And does it depend on choice? - if you choose to live in Australia, dos that make you more an Australian? My answer is that people see me as English, so that's what I am. Born and bred in the midlands of England. Born in the industrial city of Birmingham, 2 hours north of London on the M1 motorway. And because my family was very poor, and I was raised by my mother, I have to thank England for giving me a super education. In Australia that would not have been possible.

I got a law degree and moved to Australia for a fresh start.
If I had remained in London, where I was then working, I would be more prosperous. But I enjoy life in Australia. I love the wide open plains and the unique hot dry climate and primeval vegetation.

But in a short time, I have also got to like the Philippines. The Philippines extends for a vast distance North to South, and can provide impressive mountain ranges,
cool temperate regions around Baguio, a string of massive volcanoes, and lush forested hills and rivers. Plus the people are warm and they laugh easily.

My attempts to settle into married life have never quite succeeded, even after years together. So this will be my first marriage and hopefully my first child.

Am I too old for Aileen?
Maybe, maybe not. I have to justify my love for her.

Who is Aileen?

After living at home in a very small town with her little family, and working in the municipal office, it was to be expected that Aileen would have traditional styles of dress and behaviour.
In the little town of Santa Rita, everyone gets to know your business. Family pride is important.
Aileen recalls how she dard to wear a mini skirt to walk round to see her friend Lulu, and how her mother destroyed the skirt so that her daughter would appear respectable.
But I also encountered in Aileen a profound modesty, affecting her view of her facial features, her legs. She told me that the opinion of her women friends was that she would appear pretty on first encounter, but that over time she would appear plain.
So,.... with a touch of devilry, i made it my task to show how stunning Aileen would look in a range of more expressive clothing.
We spent many hours in the old department store in Tacloban and later at the SM stores and the Robinsons store in Manila.

What do you think?

In my eyes, this is the most beautiful woman in the world, not least becasue she has amazing firm breasts with nipples that are always on duty! And those legs!

Face to Face at Tacloban - January 2007

We had met quite accidentally on the internet.

I was not looking for anyone and aileen was not looking for me!

But a few words of greeting, and then that amazing face of hers, which expresses courage, generosity, and a sensual character. then the musical voice over the telephone.

From the start, Aileen expressed a deep sincerity and also a demand for commitment or nothing. She did not want to waste her time on a drifter. She wanted a man she could depend upon in marrriage.

For once in my life, this resonated with me. She was offereing what I was beginning to think was impossible.

So after months of texting. talking, emailing, I oganised a journey from Australia to the little airport at Tacloban on the island of Laete.

There she stood witing, looking fresh, youthful and very desirable. Her driver friend, Juvic, took us round to a great litle restaurant as it was lunchtime. I had flown from Manila on Cebu Pacific. She was in a short red top and jeans. the rolling journey over the big bridge to the Samar
beach resort was an erotic experience as we held on to each other on the back seat.....

Saturday February 10, 2007

On arival at the Samar beach resort, we allowed nature to take its course.
Aileen was doubtful that we would make love for perhaps the first day or two, partly because of the time of the month. But by nightfall, with the sound of the waves on the coral reef outside our room, she quietly let me know tht she was ready.
From that time, we found that the language of love was something we shared.
Now we are faced with at least a possibility of a pregnancy.
we have arranged the wedding on April 8, and there is some chance that by then she will be three months pregnant.
We have discussed the possibility and are happy if it is or is not correct.
We expect to do a test later today.
For myself, nothing would make me happier than to see my bride on her wedding day radiantly
pregnant!

Aileen

Australia - Friday Night, February 9, 2007

Aileen is located in Santa Rita on the island of Samar in the tropical Philippines. James is in the small town of Lara some miles out from Melbourne, Australia. When, how did they meet? What has happened? What is about to happen? How do they record their experiences together?