Bradley turns 7

This year we decided to go to the beach for Bradley's birthday, just the 4 of us. We thought we'd try Boracay, since everyone here says it has the most wonderful beach. We'd also heard that it was very built up & commercial, so to be honest, I was expecting much.

We'd been to a fund-raising event to raise funds for the Philippine Christian Foundation, which is run by an English woman called Jane Walker.

While at the event, we bid for a 2 night stay at a resort in Boracay called Friday's, and we won! So here we are!

I have to say, having not expected much, I was very pleasantly surprised. The beach is just beautiful. The sand is like talcum powder sifting through your fingers, and is most excellent for building castles, tunnels and moats!

The sea, although not many fish to be seen other than tiny weeny ones, was a clear azure blue, and you could wade out a long, long way, and it would still only be upto your waist.

The resort itself, was pretty good - OK for our little family for a 2 night stay, to be honest. We weren't really looking for more, although some would argue that it's not such great value for money, and I'd say that's fair comment.

As we went out of season, we didn't get the best weather, either. In fact, it rained for the whole weekend! But this didn't spoil our fun, either. When it was torrential rain (once or twice it was!), we'd just sit it out under the umbrellas. The rest of the time, we'd still go onto the beach, and play in the sea.

Bradley had seen some bigger local boys skimboarding - like skateboarding, but on a flat wooden board, riding along the shallowest of water. Some of them were really good at it, and Bradley was desperate to have a go.

We got a board from the hotel, and we all had a go. You can imagine my attempt! Not the most graceful of moves! John wasn't much better, and Adam, bless him didn't really know what to do. Bradley was so determined to master it though, and he was getting pretty good at it too!




We'd order lunch to eat on the beach, so the boys were never far away from the sand. We went for a long walk along the beach and back, just to see what else was around, but it was all very quiet, because we were out of season. Friday's resort is right at one end of the beach, which is 4km long I think, so it's tucked away from the other hotels.

Our first night, we had a BBQ meal in the resort restaurant which is right on the beach, and they put on a bit of local dancing, so that was quite entertaining.

The second night, we asked them to put a candle into Bradley's desert, and they brought it out to him, singing "Happy Birthday". I think he was pretty chuffed with that.

We headed back to Manila on Sunday night, and it was present time the following morning - the day of his birthday.

He was really lucky to have received such great presents from grandparents - mostly LEGO!!

He got an iPod from John's parents, Indiana Jones LEGO from my mum and dad, and Aunty Lorraine. Some Star Wars LEGO from us, and Adam bought him some Star Wars figures.

The Easton 4 had sent some money, so he finally spent that in Singapore - yes, more LEGO!

After school, we went for ice cream. There was me, Bradley and Adam, along with my friend Carla, and her 3 : Oscar, Emma (Bradley's friend from school), and their little sister Tilly, who was 2 on the same day, and another friend Pam with her daughter Emma.

John made sure he got home in time for dinner, so we had Bradley's favourite meal, which is fried fish (home made fish fingers), rice and veg.

He got a few phonecalls from family, wishing him a Happy Birthday. At the time, we were having problems with our phone, so he had to stand in the kitchen to chat - and the kitchen is so hot! Especially at meal times when the cooker has been going!

(We've fixed the phone now - it was that very complicated problem of not being plugged in properly!)

The day was finished up with a scrumdiddlyumptious chocolate fudge birthday cake, topped with sweets galore! (as chosen by Bradley, and baked by yours truly!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRADLEY!!