So, I ventured out to Baloy Beach yesterday to help one of my buddies celebrate his birthday. Steve is an Aussie and knows how to party! He filled his house with thirty or so other like-minded souls, and the celebration was on! Lots of beer and good food made for an enjoyable afternoon.

What I didn’t know was that Steve’s wife, Viola, is celebrating her birthday today. So, it was a dual-purpose party.

I’ve only known Steve and Viola for year or so. But from all outward appearances, he’s living large and living right. He clearly loves his gal and she reciprocates. A lucky man! Oh, and in case you are wondering, Steve turned 69 yesterday. Viola is 28 today. But as the saying goes here, “age is just a number”.

I’d visited Steve’s place once before for his house-warming party. I observed then that he lives right across the street from my first-ever residence in the Philippines, a crappy one-bedroom apartment. Well, oddly enough, Viola mentioned that a house right up the street may be coming up for rent soon. From a distance, it looked like it might meet my requirements; a single-family house with a fenced yard, and plenty of room. If the price is truly what Viola said she heard (less than 30,000 pesos) I’d have to seriously consider making the move back to Baloy. There are downsides to Baloy, lacking ease of access is the one that drove me away the first time, but if I lived in Baloy I’d probably stay put most of the time. Lots of beach bars and other places to hang out and/or dine. I’d miss the views and comfort level I have in Alta Vista, but if my landlady plans to fuck me (and not in the good way) over rent, I’m outta here. Time will tell, I suppose. My lease is paid through June.

And there you have today’s installment in the tale of my so-called life.