At what age does “Doli incapax” end, or in other words, when do children lose their innocence? For Britain, it was the age of ten.

Of all crimes I’ve read about, James Bulger’s case stands out. There’s only one word to describe it - horrific. How can it be possible for children, not even in their teens, can abduct a 2-year old boy, torture & rape him & kill him in coldblood?

I arrived in England in 2001 & the people were mad. The courts were releasing Jon Venables & Rob Thompson, now in their late teens. They were given new identities, financial support, home, education, everything that hardworking, law-abiding citizens have to work for. James mother was outraged. They deserved to die but they didn’t. They survived the incarceration.

Now yesterday there was a news item about Jon Venables admittance to homosexuality & that he’s in a serious relationship with an older man.

Can’t they just disappear? Reading about them and how they are enjoying their future while they took away another’s is unjust. If the news were to say vigilantes found them & stuck car batteries up their ars*, then do print them so everyone can at least see the twisted justice they served an innocent little angel.

Mother’s Day here in Britain last Sunday, 26 March. It’s discomforting because of two reasons: First, it’s so commercialised, you can’t go into a shop without seeing “bouquet for mum” with an astronomical price tag. Second, because in the Philippines we celebrate Mother’s Day in May (tama ba?). So I need to hoard a few cards to send in out in the “off-season”. The bad thing is I forgot. So sorry Nanay, sorry sisters.

And does anyone know why the English spell ‘mom’ as ‘mum’? I’m being constantly corrected by American-English taught friends!

Buti na lang my son is here this time of year & he’s even old enough to carry light weights. My hubby made pogiBoy give me their gift of ‘mum’ frame & ‘mum’ coffee mug with a hug & a kiss. Of course my 21-month old son thought they were his.

I can’t wait until he’s actually old enough cut out his own cards & maybe cook me breakfast in bed. Now that’s a plus for Mother’s Day!

Some time ago a colleague mentioned that the Magnificent Seven western film was actually based on a Japanese film called “seven samurais”. I took a mental note to try & get a copy of the said film in the future. Remember I told you I’m switching ISP? The big switch is on the way & there are bonuses. We get an inclusive 500mins/month free local/national call with the 1mbsp broadband connection. I also get to sample napster for a month (I’m not interested so if you are, tell me now!). And the best is I get 3 weeks free DVD rental.

I took advantage of the rental & voila their recommendation has Seven Samurai — ka-ching!

Watched it last night & it was brilliant. All black & white but the story was great. Naiisip ko nga yung “Genghis Khan” ni Armando(?) Conde na sabi ng Tatay ko, maganda daw, sana meron ding DVD release pero siempre wala dahil wala ng kopya ang Pilipinas nun! Galing.

Anyway, yung pagka-direct & yung script nung Samurai parang sa “Kung Fu Hustle”, only more serious. But the comic relief was brilliant. At sa totoo lang yung mga actors parang sila Pen Medina (nope no over-acting christopher de leon’s).

But what stood out for me was the fact that most of the actors were wearing the traditional Japanese underwear. Why? Aba, before women took over that fashion Japanese men are predisposed to wearing thongs!

happy weekend everyone

After 3 steroid injections on my right elbow, expensive physiotherapy & painful acupuncture, my tennis’ & golfers’ elbow is not getting better. My consultant told me to rest for 3 weeks.

This puts me in a bind. We’re very busy at work, our project is due on May & I’ve got additional staff & intern to train. I can’t just up & disappear.

Also the UK Statutory Sick Pay is cr*p. I get taxed heavily but when its payback time, well as our HR said I’m better off using up my annual leave credits. This will leave me with 8 days for the rest of 2006!

And rest has to be that, no lifting, no housework, no PC, no phones. I can’t use my hand very much. My dev manager obviously was very reluctant but then we’re talking about my health & livelihood here. So as a compromise I won’t leave straightaway but stay on until Easter.

Then I will leave the country & stay where I can be pampered. Either at my sister’s in Dubai or my parents’ in the Philippines.

I just hope that after the 3 weeks’ up, I don’t get the pain anymore when I come back to work. The consultant said I should observe it for 3 months. If the pain returns, I’ll be up for a tennis elbow release.

After a carpal tunnel release, now I’ll have tennis elbow release. Great! Please please don’t let this happen again. Not on my left arm. Not on my right leg. Not on any of my limbs!

The worrying thing is, I’ve noticed my dental bridge has been stinging since last week, which might mean — root canal!!! ARGH!

When 2006 arrived I told myself I’ll be married for 5 years in March. Then “the” day arrived & I just totally forgot! I was so wrapped up in my tiny world of work & my toddler’s tantrums I didn’t even get my husband a card.

He arrived near midnight & when he tried to gently wake me up with a kiss, I nearly gobbled him with disturbed-sleep’s anger. Ang sweet ko ‘no? When I got up I saw a silver package on another pillow & then it hit me, ngek anniversary pala namin! I hang my head in shame.

We’re not rich so the gift wasn’t expensive or glamorous or extraordinary. But my husband’s gesture & his effort to be better at this relationship-building thing is priceless.

I know we still have a lot of growing up to do even if we’re already in our late 20’s. Sabi nga marami pa kaming kakaining bigas. So my wish for our anniversary is that our bond to become stronger, that our patience, respect & love for another keep us together for the rest of our lives.

I’m cursed. Every time I wear a light coloured trouser, it rains. No matter how hot & humid & dry the Metro Manila air can be, as soon as I step out of my flat in cream-coloured slacks, the sky opens up with torrential rain. That’s not to say the hot sun disappears. The air just becomes stickier.

So the plague follows me in London. No matter what time of year it is - voila! It rains. So I’m nearly always in jeans or black trousers, which really makes for an even boring me.

Finally had my submucosal diathermy, SMD for short, on Tuesday afternoon. It was my first NHS treatment, not counting my numerous GP consultations. I arrived 30mins before my appointment. Got a bed 30mins after my appointment & actually walked into the theater 2 hours after my appointment. Everyone can’t wait to wheel me in & knock me unconscious because I was asking too many questions.

I wanted to ask the anaesthesiologist why she was wearing three (3) necklaces in the Operating Room when it clearly says on the sign “No jewelry/watches in Theatre”. But I don’t want to tempt fate.

I mentioned it to my husband after the 20minute procedure (yup I waited for 3hours for something that takes 15-20mins). He said the “lax” attitude was probably due to the fact mine was a minor operation… But come on, would they really have people believe they bother removing & putting their costume jewelry between patients depending on which ones were minor & which ones were major surgeries?

In the recovery room, I was nugded back to reality when I felt pulling & tagging from my throat which made me gag. I managed to open my eyes & moan, the nurse on attendance said they were taking out my tube. It hurt like hell. It was a deepthroat nightmare! She asked me how I was feeling & for some reason my eyes were really itchy. She chose to ignore that when she wrote down what my present condition & handed me back to Ward 12 of Harold Wood NHS Hospital.

I waited another 2 hours before I received my take-home meds. The totally made-up sister of Ward 12 couldn’t wait to get rid of me. She says they’re closing at 630pm (it was 5pm) & can I move to the waiting area, sit on the chairs instead of the bed, while we wait for my meds. The meds arrived half past 5 & she said just to read the instructions & I can go. Thankfully my husband’s an NHS nurse & is used to mistakes on TTA instructions. Sure enough, there was no indication of up to when I should take all three meds, one of the bottles even said throw away a week after opening. Sister make-up was visibly irritated when hubby pointed out those mistakes. She nearly jumped. According to my husband it’s a major cause for headache if the mistake wasn’t as simple. They’d have to track down the consultant who is probably in his private practice by then & won’t be contactable. Thankfully it was just a typo from the Pharmacy.

So now I have a week off & recovering… If only it’s not winter cold this first week of spring, I would have enjoyed this thoroughly. One thing’s for sure though, we’d have to amass a great fortune to retire & get treated in Pinas next time. NHS suck but going private will cost me an arm & a leg here in England.