Last Weekend

... we did the following [and more besides!].....

saturday morning market at Corio to get some imported Philippine fish...

.... went swimming at the Albert Park Pool....

.... went to see 'Becoming Jane' at the big old ASTOR theatre...

.... went to a

christening celebration for little Xenia....

.....walked round IKEA and bought some plastic fantastics.....

..... visited Peter and Cynthia in St Kilda for a few laughs.....

July after Three Months in Australia!

We have got along together .... like a house on fire!

The pregnancy is painful at times for Ai,

but she is handling it really well.

Tonight, we went through some baby names,

assuming it will be a boy!

Ai's ideas included "Carlos Miguel", mine included "Rodrigo"!

Please add a comment if you have any

brilliant ideas!

Extension Possible?

When anyone from the Philippines wants to come to Australia, they require a visa from the Australian Department of Immigration, sheltering in the offices of the Australian Embassy in Manila.

The logic requires that either the Philippino must be really prosperous, usually with employment to return to and valuable property such as a house and investments, .... or if the applicant is less prosperous, that there is a combination of a wealthy Australian sponsor [who will cover their expenses and guarantee their timely return] and also some connection which would induce the applicant to return to the Philippines within the allotted time.

One can add that the policy is discriminatory. I mean that in the sense that Australians wishing to enter the Philippines are not examined as to ways and means, no need for sponsorship, no need to demonstrate a reason for returning. - The logic is along the lines that Australia is the most desirable country on earth and there have to be barriers to stop the stampede of people from less fortunate countries. --- As such, it seems unfair and unjust.

We wanted it to be possible for Ai and myself to remain togather after the wedding in April, and not suffer another separation over many months. Therefore we took the easy option of obtaining a visitor visa. --- We explained that the baby was due in October and wanted a visa of some nine to twelve months to have the baby here. --- But the response was a three month visa expiring in July [next month!] marked that no extension was allowed.

Thus, Ai may have to fly home in July and make a fresh application for a spouse visa. They say this may take up to 12 months, although in simple cases, it may be only a matter of weeks.

But last week we received advice from the gynealcologist that in her pregnant condition, it was unsafe to make the 18 hour journey back to Santa Rita.

So...... this week we have made formal request by letter for the restriction to be waived.
----- History will tell what results.

It would maybe allow Ai to have a bridging visa, until such time as she can apply for a spouse visa. .... But until waived, it is not permitted to apply for a spouse visa while here on a visit!
--- The entanglement of rules is unsaatisfactory, and can result in strangely conflicting advice even from theImmigration advisory people.

So... this Saturday morning, as we head out to the local market at GEELONG, in search of Philippine bangus fish, we are waiting for a response from the Immigration people....

melbourne is on a river facing the bay.....

On 15 June, we took a lift to the 55th floor of Melbourne's second tallest building where there is a view of Melbourne in all directions. We had tea with Yasmine, who is offering to help with the baby.

The sun had broken through the veil of fog.

The yarra river and bridges are visible at left.

On the right is the amazing new Eureka building, the tallest in Australia.

In the distance is the 10o,000 seater football stadium incorrectly called the Melbourne Cricket Ground!

Yes, it stages cricket, but the real money is in the Australian game of football.

New Friends in Australia

Aileen and James have had heaps of support and friendly advice from Peter and Cynthia, and through them have met
Tess and Darren. Cynthia and tess are Filipinas, both recent immigrants to Australia.



On Sunday night we had a fun party night at P and C's place in St Kilda. - St Kilda is a trendy inner suburb of Melbourne, with Port Philip Bay beaches and cafe life.

The wedding - 9 April 2007 - santa Rita !

Here are some of the pictures taken by me, James, on the morning of the ceremony at the church.
Ai and I were staying at the Santa Rita Guest House, which has a spacious ground floor reception and dining area.

Looking back. The view from Australia.

On April 7, I came dangerously close to missing the plane.


- If that had happened, there would have been no civil ceremony of marriage ahead of the church wedding fixed for April 9. There was a problem with Qantas at Melbourne Airport.


- Qantas had converted without prior notice the check in for a domestic Sydney connector flight, to a full international check in. Added to which there were different lines and delays in waiting to reach the desk. The officil notice was to check in 45 minutes before departure, but the warning received at the sesk was that I should have checked in 90 minutes in advance.





Let's just be thankful that they rushed me through at the last minute. - The problem with Qantas is that there is no through flight between Melbourne and Manila. - Unlike other airlines, where the same plane continues on. - This means that you are required to take a domestic flight between Melbourne and Sydney. At Sydney there is chaos because the international and domestic terminals are miles apart, linked by a primitive bus service, and requiring additional baggage handling and security checks.



But on April 18, feeling weak from the effects of colds, pregnancy and Qantas, ..... Ai stepped out from melbourne Airport into the Australian sunshine. We were met by the incredibly generous Michael P., with a stretched limo!

So let's work back over the events of the weddings [plural]. Civil and then religious. And take note of the realities underlying them...