Days are bright, night’s cool
Have fun that’s the rule
Summer is here at long last
Cycling and ice-cream
Going down the stream
Things to do are vast
Swimming in the pool
Go to Liverpool
With our car that is so fast
Meet friends and go scream
Days full of daydream
Weather’s good that’s the forecast
summer morning
the flower’s scent is heaven
serene feeling all over
on a clear day
trying to reach the sky
joy of being here
(c) ladyleemanila 2017
– NEKNEERAJ
“I’ve always loved you, from the day we said hello, to now and to the future,” those were his words and I believed them. Days, months and years have passed. We carried on despite the difficulties and our circumstances. Until the wind changed. He broke his promises, he broke my trust and confidence and shattered my heart into pieces. The pain was unbearable and everything was black. But time is a great healer. I’ve learned my lessons and accepted the situation. I’m mending well, slowly. I realise that I’m the only one who could help myself and I have to move on. The world is beautiful and the future is bright.
After the darkness
Dawn always comes and brings hope
A new beginning
(c) ladyleemanila 2017
For: Haibun Monday #38, Kintsugi: The Art of Broken Pieces by Grace, Photo Challenge #167
The kitchen by Carl Larssson
Leche Flan is my favourite dessert. When we have some get-together, I always make leche flan and everyone loves it. My brother has this recipe and it’s so delicious! Here it is: 10 egg yolks, 2 cans evaporated milk, 1 can condensed milk, rinds of a lemon. First of all, prepare your tins and caramelised some sugar in them. Just put a couple of spoons of sugar in the tins and in a medium heat keep on stirring until brown caramelised. Put them aside. For the leche flan, put all the ingredients together, slightly stirring it, making sure no air formed. Double sieve it to the tins you have put aside with the caramelised sugar. Steam them until done. Usually half an hour steaming. Put them in the refrigerator. Best served cold. Enjoy!
Over the rainbow
Walking by the summer field
A day so brilliant
For: Haibun Monday: From the kitchen of poets by Björn Rudberg (brudberg)
In the Philippines, we never really have spring, winter or autumn, just summer all year. Only two seasons, wet and dry. Temperatures nearly the same every day, the sun rises and sets at the same time. I’m not saying I’m bored with it, but it’s also nice to experience the different seasons, to be cold, to be warm, to change tyres from winter to summer ones, to shovel snow, to clear all the falling leaves, to have some grill in the garden with friends in the summer and so on. Anyway, in Germany, we are in the middle of winter and we’re having snow for the last three weeks or so. I can’t wait for spring, which is my favourite season in Europe. I love when the snow disappears and the weather starts being warm. I love the blossoms, new leaves and flowers wakening up, birds singing, the sun’s shining. It’s time to get our bikes out and enjoy cycling, and more flowers blooming – tulip, daffodil, crocus, lily of the valley, hyacinth, blue bell – simply wonderful!
as the sun shines
sweet spring, enjoy life’s offer
a welcoming sight
buds coming out
take time to smell the flowers
sweet-smelling spring
“You’re it!” I didn’t see her as she pointed to me, called my name and said, “You’re it!” I’ve got to look for them hiding around our street. It was getting dark so it was tough finding them. However, I knew Thor would be hiding at his usual place, my brother kissing our neighbour in one corner and I’d managed to locate Bethcha. Before long we had to go back to our houses and ate our dinner. Other days, we’d play patintero (try to cross my line without letting me touch or catch you), tumbang preso (hit the can), piko (hopscotch) or luksong-tinik (lit. jump over the thorns of a plant). Sometimes we’d rent some bikes and circled around our neighbourhood.
Easter Breaks. The only time of the year when all of us cousins stayed in our Granddad’s house. The number of times we walked back and forth the house and the chapel for singing the passion plays. The afternoons we spent splashing in that creek while Granddad washed the carabao, the still warm fresh milk that morning and the mangoes we’ve picked on the way to the farm. We all slept on the floor, some snoring, some talking, and telling each other’s stories, jokes and secrets.
Dapitan. Our house in Dapitan was small – for our parents, 4 children, Granny, aunts and cousins. It was constantly full of people and activities. Our cousins from the province stayed with us once they started college. There were 2 bedrooms, one for our parents and one for all of us with 2 bunk beds; the rest slept on the floor. My classmates and I loved hanging out there; doing our homework and projects; lunch and merienda (snacks) were at all times provided. When I needed to concentrate in college, I’d wake up in the middle of the night to revise or just to have some peace and quiet.
Childhood memories
When life was full of roses
Snippets of my life
Snippets of my life
Full of innocence and fun
Summer spent with friends
This week’s photo prompt is provided by Maria with Doodles and Scribbles. Thank you Maria!
Last Saturday was my birthday. We drove to the mountains a day before so we could celebrate my birthday for the weekend. The hotel was the only one on top of a mountain, the view was amazing! We walked along the frozen lake, Riesersee, so refreshing with a view of the Zugspitze. In the morning of my birthday, I was greeted by the staff with a table full of greetings, two glasses of sparkling wine and we had a sumptuous breakfast. They even delivered a birthday cake when we were back in our room, so sweet!
We walked from our hotel down to town, Garmisch Partenkirchen, about an hour’s walk, through a private path from the hotel. There was some Christmas market, with stalls of Christmas decorations, leathers, antique pins and jewellery, and a carousel for the children. The things were from the local artists and the food from the local farmers. We drank some warm mulled wine and ate grilled sausages.
In the evening, we dressed up to go the restaurant across the hotel. The manager remembered that it was my birthday and gave us the best place in the restaurant and two glasses of sparkling wine. A luxurious meal – antipasti, pork medallion with mushrooms and cream and crème brûlée with a nice bottle of Riesling. It was a romantic evening with some fire burning at the fireplace and a man playing the piano. We walked by the lake under the moonlight. I couldn’t ask for more! And to all, a goodnight.
A winter birthday
Walked by the moonlight with him
Couldn’t ask for more
(c) ladyleemanila 2016
For: Haibun Monday: And to all a goodnight by hayesspencer, FFfAW Challenge-by Priceless Joy
It was three months after I started the lab training. Those months were wonderful, learned new skills in the lab, met a lot of other students from different countries and had lots of parties, cycling trips, field trips and others. Also, met the love of my life. He had been here for a year and it was time for him to depart. I still had three months left. He had to go back to the UK to finish his degree. With heavy hearts, we went to the airport. He checked in and we waited. We didn’t know what would happen. Would we see each other again? In two different countries, continents even. We cried our hearts out.
Checked in all his bags
The uncertainty of love
Crying our hearts out
(c) ladyleemanila 2016
For: Haibun Monday – Free for All by Hayesspencer, Heeding Haiku With Chèvrefeuille, November 30th 2016, departure, 30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 30
What are you thankful for today?
I am thankful for Him Indoors and all the memories and experiences that we share.
