Must love dogs

We currently have a total of nine dogs including the four that are technically the dogs of my in-laws (who moved with us last year). Of these dogs, I can say that I am closest to our three 'original' dogs - Mocha, Boots and Bonnie.

Our golden retriever Mocha who we also call Mokey. She answers to both names when called.

Despite his size, our maltipoo Boots was able to impregnate Mocha. She had five puppies and we found homes for 3 while retaining 2 (our daughter's wish). One went to a teacher of our ward, who's already in high school. One went to our driver, Larry, who also loves dogs and has several in his home. Another went to Zeny, our part-time helper. All three are doing well as are the two - Snowy and Panda - who stayed with us. Boots is usually in our house as our daughter let's him in, and he likes to stay in her "work and play area". He actually likes to sleep under the sofa and comes out occasionally for water or if he wants to be let out to answer the call of nature.

Mocha is currently shedding so she is allowed only a limited time in the house. That is usually for her to get treat, which is typically a denta stix or a few biscuits. Other times we let her in so we can scratch, pet or massage her. You sometimes think this is a one-way thing but studies have shown that spending some time with your dog is healthy and quite therapeutic. And they do show their gratitude and affection in many ways including cuddling up to you, licking you or just lying by your side or feet. That's maybe why we love our dogs.

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Why do I collect watches?

My daughter asked me why I had so many watches as she saw me putting away some watches while taking out others. I was in the middle of changing my rotation for the month (yes, just so I get to wear most of the ones I could on a daily basis) when she entered the room. I explained to her about my hobby and somehow got to the part where I related to her how important time was to me and a part of that was keeping the time. The watches reminded me how important that was to me and them being in great condition and keeping the time helps me be on time and manage my schedule. I thought she understood what her father was trying to tell her at her young age. And then she popped the question: are these going to be mine when I grow up? I said yes! And somehow I know she's going to be fine!

Here are among my favorites in my collection, the ones I regard as keepers and perhaps my "first five". Only a couple are in my regular rotation and while the others are usually worn for special occasions, I tend to make sure these occasions are more often so I can enjoy them on my wrist.

Jaeger LeCoultre Futurematic

Mido Ocean Star Caliber 80 diver, which I prefer to use when I'm swimming

Seiko 5626-7040 King Seiko Chronometer - one of my birth month, birth year watches

Glashutte Spezichron diver, a much sought after classic from the former East Germany

And this piece that needs no introduction

If this were a basketball game, the sixth man position will go to this:

Seiko Landmaster AGS - my usual pick when I go out to do fieldwork

There are other watches I have an attachment to including a couple of other Seikos, a Baume and some Swatches. They have a part in my rotation(s) and I keep tabs on them especially the quartz ones as I am usually the one changing their batteries. :)

Happy Father's Day!

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Vintage Seiko Lord Matic 5606-6080, another BMBY

I wrote about a couple of birth month, birth year watches that I had. Unfortunately, both were kept at my office and I only had photos of the Seiko Actus that I posted a couple of months ago. Here are photos of the LM (Lordmatic) Special.

The elegant black dial has day and date features. Day settings can be in English or Kanji (i.e., kinyobi or Friday as shown in the photo)

Side view showing the crown

The other side view

Case back showing the model number, and the serial number indicating this to have been manufactured in February 1972.

A wrist shot I took yesterday at the start of work

Close up of the dial showing the watch model at the bottom that matches the one on the case back

This is a rather small-looking watch. It actually measures 35mm wide but looks smaller because of the dial and case combination. Keeps time and has a decent power reserve. The Cal. 5606A movement runs at 21,600 beats per hour and potentially has a 46 hours on it on a full charge (regular use).

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Lunch at Mary Grace and some thoughts on the impacts of the pandemic on similar businesses

The transition to GCQ in many areas have somewhat eased the more stringent rules applied to many business especially those dealing with food. Many restaurants, cafes and eateries have been forced to close down during the lockdowns. Eventually, they were allowed to re-open but were limited to pick-up or delivery only.

Prior to the lockdowns, we were fortunate to have eaten out a couple of times at Mary Grace. Once after our daughter's check-up at The Medical City and again after a court hearing in Taytay when we proceeded for late lunch at SM East Ortigas. I think it would be some time again before we can enjoy a meal in one of their branches.

Spanish sardines and olives pasta with hot native chocolate on the side

Pesto with mushrooms

Smoked ham, greens, candied cranberries and crushed almond with vinaigrette

Vigan longanisa (sausages) with fried rice and eggs - typical Filipino all-day breakfast

Mary Grace has become a successful chain and should be able to survive this difficult time for many other businesses like it. The ECQ and GCQ restrictions have been having detrimental impacts on many small and medium enterprises including restaurants, cafes and eateries. Not all can survive with deliveries and takeouts and though perhaps their cooks or chefs can be retained, other staff may have to be let go. I know someone who just started his first restaurant (franchisee) and he says its really difficult even with dining now being allowed but again with certain restrictions. Hopefully, they can get through this and the same sentiments go with other businesses as well.

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Vintage Seiko Chronograph 6138-0017

My collection of Seiko watches include this vintage automatic chronograph. The 6138-0017 is among the most sought after chronograph models that is fondly called a UFO by collectors. This model arguably is in the company of the Seiko Kakume and the JPS chronographs.

Side view showing the crown and the chronograph buttons

The other side view

Case back showing the model and movement number as well as the serial number indicating this watch to have been manufactured in February 1973 - the year and month when I turned one!

Close-up showing the lumed hands and the two sub dials.

The obligatory wrist shot - note how big this watch is!

I have yet to find an aftermarket stainless steel band for this watch. In the meantime, I had been using a nato strap that I also used for my other watches.

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Outdoor watering bowls - a kindness to wildlife

One variation of our usual walking route takes us to a relatively "unsettled" area of our village. There, one of the residents put out this concrete bowl (usually used in gardening/landscaping) to provide water to the abundant wildlife in the area. These include many types of birds including kingfishers, owls, rails (tikling), crows and sparrows (maya). There are also small mammals like squirrels, rats, mice, and of course, cats and dogs.

There's a sign saying the bowl is not for waste or garbage

This and others like it in other homes provide much coveted water during the dry season. We also have couple of smaller ones in our garden that we see birds go to for water. Of course, we also have several bowls of water for our dogs. Some of these bowls are conveniently located where other animals can access them while the dogs are away or sleeping. These though are not for cats and rats, which our dogs have discouraged from sharing their water.

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Chocolate review: Co Chocolat That Skinny 60% dark chocolate with skinny nuts

I have this backlog on chocolates we've had this past year so here goes another review of a chocolate we had early this 2020. It is one of the variants we got from our investment in a chocolate venture.

Co Chocolat's That Skinny features a dark chocolate with various nuts

Details on the chocolate at the back of the box

Note the short shelf life of the chocolate. The explanation for this is that the makers

The cacao is sourced from Bayugan, Agusan Del Sur province

The chocolate bar is wrapped in foil sealed with a signed sticker

The inside of the box contains information about the chocolate and the advocacy supported by the makers.

Notes about the community of farmers producing the cacao used for this chocolate.

The intricate mold

This chocolate is smooth as can be expected from a 60% cacao dark chocolate bar. I thought this was the most enjoyable among Co Chocolat's variants. The only issue I have with this chocolate is that it is "bitin", which translates into the quantity not being enough to satisfy your chocolate craving. :)

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Chocolate fix during the lockdown

The lockdown over more than 2 months depleted our chocolates and what I thought was a replenish-able stash of Meiji Blacks was also reduced to a couple of bars. I preserved those bars as there suddenly was none of these at the supermarket shelves where I got our groceries. There were dark chocolates to be found but we have tasted many of them and their quality just didn't satisfy. Fortunately, there was a fallback in the form of Toblerone. Their dark chocolate variant didn't state the % of cacao but we enjoy this chocolate including derivatives like the Toblerone walnut torte from Mom & Tina's.

Fast forward to the present and we have replenished our chocolates with orders from Healthy Options and the return of Meiji Black to the supermarket shelf. There will, however, be no air travel for us for a while so that basically minimizes the chances we can get our chocolates abroad or the airport duty free shops. That means it will probably take time before we can get some of our favorite chocolates unless these become available online.

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On Yakult

I started drinking Yakult on a regular basis (daily in the evenings) when I first came to Japan in February 1996. A very close friend had suggested it to me as I was recovering from amoebiasis and just finished my antibiotics regimen when I arrived in Tokyo. My tummy improved faster than I thought it would with my daily dose of Yakult and soon I could have also have some alcohol during those winter days in Tokyo. I've had at least one Yakult a day since then, to which I have attributed (partly) my general well-being. Probiotics, I thought, worked with me.

Typical 5-pack Yakult you can buy at the supermarket. There's also the blue Yakult Light, the less sugar version, but I haven't seen those in the supermarket lately.

I used to purchase 2 packs of 4 of these. Yakult 400 had almost double the amount of regular Yakult and you could only buy these from Yakult distributors (remember the Yakult Lady?) in Japan.

At the height of the lockdowns, some people hoarded Yakult, not for themselves or their families but to sell. Reports of this practice prompted supermarkets to place limits on the Yakult you can buy. The company also issued the above statement concerning this including an item on the prices of Yakult.

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Mango delights - Part 4

We still have a lot of mangoes and I have sent not a few to my parents in Cainta.  Here is the haul early last week and the arrangements I made for them to be sent.

Mangoes picked from the tree

Grab Express rider securing the box of mangoes, which weighed around 10kg.

The mangoes arrived at my parents' home and here they are when my brother opened the box.

We still have a lot of mangoes to pick, and eat or give away. There are big ones where its difficult to pick them so we'll have to find a way to reach them.

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