Have you not thought about taking the lovely lady to Uk for a visit, because as your partner, I'd imagine at some stage she might want to? From personal experience though, I know it's virtually impossible to get a visitor/tourist visa for a Filipino spouse of a UK citizen although you're not currently married but who knows....? Yes, she seems tied to her family there but she's been abroad before, and a visit is just that. If you've covered this subject already, then my apologies.

All 27 of us

Do you mean that it is virtually impossible for a spouse visa to UK, or impossible for Pete as he and his gf are not married?

A few years ago ( the rules may have changed in recent years ) a friend wanted his GF to come to the UK for a few weeks holiday and then they were going to return to PH together, ticket already bought for him & her ( UK>Manila ). He showed me the paperwork that the UK immigration dept required him to complete. I am not surprised that few GFs make it to the UK.

Yes I appreciate that GF visit visa is difficult.
I was questioning the earlier post by Dale-Vaness that a spouse visa was virtually impossible, which isn't the case.

Spouse also very difficult from the UK. I had an engineer working for me in the UK who was married to a S Korean for over 2.5 years and still could not get here papers to live in the UK. I got him transferred to our French office, all done and dusted within a few months.

Not too sure what, if any, effect the Brexit will have, as she has been living in the UK for a couple of years now.

My wife had no problem obtaining visitors visas to the UK before we married. Honesty is always the best policy.

Greetings again,

My lovely lady has no great desire to visit the UK, which I found surprising and a little disappointing. She said maybe in 10 or 20 yrs time which I guess means never. I cannot get a straight answer about the reason why, but I think its because she thinks she will die within a day or two of stepping on English soil. Why? Simple. She will not be able to eat 3 buckets of rice per day and it will be cold and rainy. She also likes to get up at 5.30 each morning and go to bed early. I have told her that there are plenty of Asian restaurants about where she can get one fix per day of rice. Rain is a big problem for her and the maxim of *you only get once* is met with a blank expression.




Rain is a big no no for her. From rain, you can get all sorts of diseases ranging from Dengue to the Black Death. In fact, you can tell where we sit at a table on the beach because there is a deep furrow in the sand where we constantly traverse from table to restaurant and back when she thinks she felt a rain drop. Even though the amount of rain that falls is not enough to wash a mosquitoes underwear, it is dangerous and we must avoid at all cost. However, that all changes when its hosing down outside. If a couple of kids here are frolicking about in the rain, then she quickly dismisses thoughts of Dengue and the black death. She quickly changes into her bikini and frolics with them. I think the 20 -30 selfies provides some sort of protection ......but there you go. Another example of pinay logic.




I have no great desire to go back to the UK yet for a visit, although I do miss my sons a lot. When I do decide to go back which will be after divorce etc, I shall ask her to come with me. But I wont insist she comes. But it should be interesting because I believe she still thinks I want to go back to my estranged wife. The last time she thought I went anywhere near her was when I in the Uk and was met with a fb reaction from her. Her profile pic changed to a graphic photo of a cut wrist c/w blood and a razor blade. She threatened self harm but that's a story for another time. Happened 3 times....and only once here.




Visited her fathers house today. They are definitely moving. When I jokingly said that not many houses have a swimming pool, it was met with a baleful stare from her. They don't understand British humour....sadly. I mentioned previously that they are short of money. Her father stunk of perfume or whatever. He smelt like a gay brothel. Must quickly add, I have never been in one. My lovely lady is also an Avon rep and sold him expensive smellies. Just shows how devoid of money they are. Or logic.

Regards and thanks again

She is right, rain is the biggest carrier of nasty diseases as my wife keeps on telling me. I got my own back the other day when I isolated her shower, when she asked why the shower did not work, I told her that I had turned it off to protect her as the water in the tanks was now nearly 100% rain water and she might catch all these nasty ailments she keeps telling me I will catch if I go out in the rain. Still waiting for the full fall out from this, but my money is on that it will be my fault for not understanding.

It is sarcasm that they have a total sense of humour failure on. In the 2010 election there was the slogan about 'Mr Clean', I asked the girl who was running his local campaign, who was very good in English, if that meant that he washed his hands before he put them in the till. 100% blank look.

Greetings all,

Just a note to say that all is well in the household and I am still alive and kicking.

The gate-gate episode seems to be over. Once I told my lovely lady that I will get a large dog if people cannot be asked to lock the gate after them, she personally reminds people leaving to lock the gate. Its a simple lock really....nothing very difficult. Thanks for the idea!

Waddling sister is having her house modernized. She has just come into a bit of money I believe and over the weekend has had the back removed and in its place will be another wall with a door leading to an outside kitchen. 2 guys started yesterday and they are hard at it. I see some cement has arrived, so no idea of the cost. Maybe she has forgotten the 7k she owes me. Slightly disappointing to say the least. Maybe I should get over myself. But I will be watching to see how much rent my gf pays this month. Just in case some has been deducted for "repairs". I certainly wont be paying for it. Just had a thought. When I tell them I cannot afford to buy this house.....all her hard earned money on the refurb will be wasted. Guess that's called Karma. Biting an outsized back-side.

Her father borrowed 500 peso a few weeks ago. Payable in one week. Ok, its a fiddling amount but I am not amused when they renege on the deal without explanation. He wanted another 1k last week to send his daughter for job interview. I was going to say no, but he asked for it the night before interview. I lent him the 1k not wanting to be blamed for a missed interview. Yes, they certainly know how to work me for money. My gf had no money (really?....plenty of gold to pawn). I told him and her I need it back by the 25th otherwise I will be short for a couple of bills. If I don't get it back, I will tell them both....he can keep the money....but never ask me for money again. Am I being churlish? Maybe. But I budget each month and they should learn self control and prudence. Yes....I can hear laughs of mirth and merriment out there! I should add that the daughter is the one who has been out of work for 4 months after getting a degree in college. Its a call centre job about 7 hrs bus ride from here. Starting pay is 17k for one month I believe and once trained will get 30k. She turned something down similar because they work nights. She will be unable to sleep during the day.....poor soul.

Wandered down to the market this morning and I spotted a rather dirty undressed little boy in a door way. Yes, I see lots of these, but he was especially so. She said the father is out of work and has been for many a year. So what can his parents do poor souls? Procreate apparently....nothing else to do all day. They have 12 children. Governments fault apparently. I feel a big Grrrrrrrrr coming on.

All for now

Off to procreate...

Have you told your GF you are going to procreate? She may not be happy if she gets it into her head that there may be "someone else'!! Agree entirely re your plan for future loans to her father. It's the only way and of course if the daughter gets the call centre job, she will be in a position to repays fathers debts ....... More mirth and merriment! Why not send waddling sister a note, congratulating her on coming into money and say you expect she will be along to pay what she owes you as she is obviously no longer short of the readies. Whooooosh - pigs overhead.
Thanks for the update, it does lighten my day!

The rule of thumb number here is 4. If they own a TV they will have 4 or less kids, if no TV more than 4. Out of all my wife's relatives that I know only one family break that norm.

Having lots of kids is insurance for your old age.

Premiums are pretty high then, I have seen some families with 10 kids, all under the age of about 12/13, waiting for supper to be served.