Rob, thank you for making my 50th birthday a day to remember... a week to remember... a month to remember... a year to remember... I will surely remember for the rest of my life. Thank you for going the extra mile in making sure I have the most memorable day. You have gone far and beyond to make my day fantastic and fabulous, enjoyable and fun-filled. Thank you my sweet and loving husband. I'm very grateful for your generosity and thoughtfulness. What a surprise! A welcome sight when I came down on my 50th birthday, 1st July 2022. Rob, thank you for the... ● Nikon D7500 DSLR camera ● Sigma 150-600mm lens for the Nikon D7500 ● Panasonic Lumix digital camera ● Gorgeous bouquet of flowers from Interflora ● Pretty balloons ● Beautiful cards Day 1 ● Luscious and lush birthday lunch at my favourite restaurant. ● Give thanks to the Lord for my 50 years of existence in St Just in Roseland Church. ● Walk around the picturesque village of St Mawes. ● Nature and Wildlife Walk at the scenic coast of Kiberick Cove. ● Luscious and lush birthday dinner at my favourite restaurant. St Just in Roseland Church Outside St Just in Roseland Church Inside St Just in Roseland Church Across the river overlooking St Just in Roseland Church Picturesque village of St Mawes Scenic coast of Kiberick Cove Day 2 ● Nature and wildlife walk in Glendurgan Garden. ● Nature and wildlife walk in Helford River. Glendurgan Garden Helford River Day 3 ● Nature and wildlife walk in The Dodman. ● Nature and wildlife walk in Hemmick Beach. Dodman Point Hemmick Beach Day 4 and 5 ● Glitzy and glamorous London trip!!! ● Ultimate shopping spree at Bond St, Regent St and Oxford St. ● Eat... eat... eat!!! Sooo stuffed. A real food trip. ● Thames River Cruise. ● Promenade at Hyde Park. ● Big Bus Tour around London. ● Sightseeing: Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Mayfair, Piccadilly Circus, St. Paul's Cathedral, Trafalgar Square, Hyde Park, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Green Park, Statue of Anteros, Bond St., Oxford St., Regent St., Carnaby Soho, Thames River, London Eye, London Bridge, London Victoria Station, Marble Arch, City Hall and others. Missed out the National History Museum, Madame Tussauds, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Royal Opera House, Buckingham Palace, St. James's Palace, Westminster Abbey, Covent Garden, Westminster Cathedral, and others as it is sooo hot hot hot and such a long queue and too crowded. ● Philippine Embassy. Thames River Cruise Tower Bridge London Eye Houses of Parliament St Paul's Cathedral Hyde Park Marble Arch Trafalgar Square Piccadilly Circus Carnaby Soho London Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour Philippine Embassy Day 6 ● Nature and Wildlife walk in Bentley Woods, Salisbury. Bentley Woods, Salisbury Day 7 ● Nature and Wildlife walk in Aish Tor. ● Nature and Wildlife walk in Dart Valley Nature Reserve. ● Nature and Wildlife walk in Dartmoor National Park, Newbridge. Aish Tor Dart Valley Nature Reserve Dartmoor National Park, Newbridge
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1st July, I will celebrate ME. The birth of ME, MYSELF and I. The person I have grown to be. The person I will become. The daughter, sister, auntie, niece, cousin, friend, wife and I am. Life does begin at 50 (not 40). Goodbye, adieu, adios, arrivederci, cheerio, sayonara, au revoir, so long 40s. Hello, howdy, bonjour, buenos dias, what's up 50. I’m no longer 40-something. I’m now a 50-somebody. I wish myself many more years of joy, love, laughter, good health and prosperity. I wish myself strength and wisdom for days to come and success with everything I do today and tomorrow. Thank you God for the gift of life and for giving me another year to live. Thank you Lord for giving me the courage and strength to face any challenges that comes my way. Thank you God for all the experience of this past year, for times of success which will always be happy memories, for times of failure which reminded me of my own weakness and of my need for you, for times of joy when the sun was shining, for times of sadness which drove me to you. Rob… Thank you for always making me happy. I feel like every day is my birthday. You are the most loving, caring, affectionate and dependable husband. Thank you for encouraging me to follow my heart and do what I love to do. Thank you for supporting my passion and interest in writing and photography. Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for always bringing out the best in me. Thank you for being my number one fan, my staunch supporter, my most loyal ally. You are truly my rock and the wind beneath my wings. I love you for loving me tremendously. Daddy Leon and Mommy Angie… Thank you for being the best parents a child could ever ask for. Thank you for your unconditional love and endless care. Thank you for making sure I have a wonderful and memorable childhood. Thank you for supporting my every endeavor and encouraging me to do my best in everything I do. Thank you for your advice and wisdom. I am who I am today because of you. Thank you for nurturing me into the woman I am today. Thank you Mommy Angie for giving birth to this awesome, amazing, brilliant and smart child. Thank you brother Russel, sis-in-law Myla, nephew Gabriel and Miguel, sistah Rachel for all your love and care, thoughtfulness and generosity. Thank you for always sharing your blessings. Thank you for looking after my best interest. Thank you for always having my back. Thank you my dear friends from the University of the East College of Dentistry and Manila Central University College of Dentistry for the friendship. You made my Dentistry days so much fun and enjoyable, wonderful and memorable. You coloured my world. Thank you BFF Nelinda Cupino for the friendship, for always being there for me eventhough we're miles away. Thank you my lovely Soroptimist friends Maggie Hamilton, Jane Bridges and Kay Turner for your friendship, kindness and thoughtfulness. I really appreciate you. You're the sweetest. Thank you my good friends Paul Miles and Dawn Miles for your thoughtfulness and generosity. You are truly the most dependable and most helpful friends. Thank you my good friends Lee Slaughter, Russell Hemmings and David Conway for taking me to Cerne Abbas, Dorset to see the Duke of Burgundy butterfly; Fontmell and Melbury Downs, Dorset to see the Glanville Fritillary, Adonis Blue butterfly and Small Blue butterfly and Daneway Banks to see the Large Blue butterfly. Five butterflies now tick off my list. Thank you to all my family, relatives and friends who remembered my special day... for the cards, gifts and good wishes. I'm forever grateful. The big FIVE-OH. My golden year is here. I had five decades of an amazing life. But I’ll go and make this one the best year yet. I hope I will live them to the fullest, starting today. The older you get, the more you shine. Here's to 50 amazing years on earth! Cheers! 50 for 50
Lets Get Wild, connect with nature and wildlife in support of Mental Health Awareness Week 20215/16/2021 Mental Health Awareness Week, 10-16 May 2021. |
It's been a long busy day. Wake up at 5:00am. Done a lot on my course study in the morning. Had an hour break for lunch while birdwatching. Work in the afternoon till evening. Came home at 7:00pm. And I still have plenty of energy to cooked dinner and party afterwards. Just me and Rob Nicholls having a relaxing evening listening to some awesome music and dancing. Thank you brother Russel Castillo and sistah Rachel Castillo for the Vodka and Lapids chicharon. Love it. Cheers!
Your love makes every day of my life so warm and sunny in the cold weather of Cornwall.
I feel so blessed coz God gave me the most loving and caring husband with an excellent IQ.
19th February is your special day and I‘m going to be your PERSONAL GENIE on this day. Your wish is my command. (take note only on your birthday. bwuahahaha...)
I love you to the moon and back - Rowena 🎂🍻🎁🎉🎊🎈💜❤️
Happy birthday Rob! Wishing you more blessings, good health and happiness. May all your dreams and wishes come true. Loads of love, hugs and kisses from la familia CASTILLO - Daddy Leon, Mommy Angie, brother Russel, sis-in-law Myla, Gabrlel Angelo, Miguel Angelo and sistah Rachel 🎂🍻🎁🎉🎊🎈💜❤️
Thank you mommy Angie and daddy Leon, brother Russel, sis-in-law Myla, nephew Gabriel Angelo and Miguel Angelo, sistah Rachel, auntie Joy, cousin Katherine and Jameson for all the fantastic and fabulous gifts you gave to Rob. I'm 100% sure that he will enjoy opening them later on. Your generosity and thoughtfulness is much appreciated. I'm sooo lucky and blessed to have such an amazing family. Viva La Famila Castillo. 💜❤️💙💚💛
Dining with spectacular view of Watergate Bay for Rob's birthday meal at Jamie Oliver's Fifteen Cornwall. The food is sumptuous as always. For starters, I had mussels served with fennel and ciabatta while Rob had monkfish cheeks served with preserved lemon. For mains, I had ox tongue serve with watercress and horseradish while Rob had potatoes served with pancetta, olives and capers. For desserts, I had vanilla panna cotta served with pomegranate and pistachio while Rob had rhubarb tart served with creme fraiche. We really enjoyed our meal. Thank you to the superb chef and excellent staff. Cheers!
After that sumptuous birthday meal at Jamie Oliver's Fifteen Cornwall, we went for a walk in Watergate Bay. Although there was a very thick fog, it's actually warm. It's not that cold. Loads of wildlife around.
What a wonderful day. Had a sumptuous birthday meal at Jamie Oliver's Fifteen Cornwall. Had a lovely walk in Watergate Bay.
And now it's time for the birthday boy to open his gifts. Rob had an enjoyable and fun-filled time opening his gifts. Thank you mommy Angie and daddy Leon, brother Russel, sis-in-law Myla, nephew Gabriel Angelo and Miguel Angelo, sistah Rachel, auntie Joy, cousin Katherine and Jameson for all the fantastic and fabulous gifts you gave to Rob. I'm 100% sure that he will enjoy opening them later on. Your generosity and thoughtfulness is much appreciated. I'm sooo lucky and blessed to have such an amazing family. Viva La Famila Castillo. 💜❤️💙💚💛
A simple but memorable birthday celebration.
What a fantastic and fabulous "4 days off" this Easter. Me and Rob Nicholls had done some reflection and praying as well as having a great time bonding, walking, butterfly and birdwatching.
We've been good in eating fish and vegetables. I bought 2 whole huge Salmon. No meat at all. We only had meat on Sunday, to celebrate the end of Easter.
Photographer: Rowena Castillo Nicholls
Videographer: Rob Nicholls
Hubby wake up early today to make me some "PANCAKE". He even showed me some of his hidden talent of flipping the pancakes. Well-done Rob Nicholls! You're pancake is superb. Love it!
Shrove Tuesday (also known in Commonwealth countries as Pancake Tuesday or Pancake day) is the day in February or March immediately preceding Ash Wednesday (the first day of Lent), which is celebrated in some countries by consuming pancakes. In others, especially those where it is called Mardi Gras or some translation thereof, this is a carnival day, and also the last day of "fat eating" or "gorging" before the fasting period of Lent.
This moveable feast is determined by Easter. The expression "Shrove Tuesday" comes from the word shrive, meaning "absolve". Shrove Tuesday is observed by many Christians, including Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists and Roman Catholics, who "make a special point of self-examination, of considering what wrongs they need to repent, and what amendments of life or areas of spiritual growth they especially need to ask God's help in dealing with.
Being the last day of the liturgical season historically known as Shrovetide, before the penitential season of Lent, related popular practices, such as indulging in food that one sacrifices for the upcoming forty days, are associated with Shrove Tuesday celebrations, before commencing the fasting and religious obligations associated with Lent. The term Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday", referring to the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season, which begins on Ash Wednesday.
Our Lady Star of the Sea & Saint Anthony Catholic Church, St Mawes, Roseland Peninsula
The Rising Sun Inn, St Mawes, Roseland Peninsula
St Mawes Harbour, St Mawes, Roseland Peninsula
Castle Cove, St Mawes, Roseland Peninsula
Home Sweet Home, Grampound Road
Photographer: Rowena Castillo Nicholls
Videographer: Rob Nicholls
Today is a special day. It's the "??" birthday of my husband Rob Nicholls. He's another year older and another year wiser. Growing older is like wine, you get better as you age. Aging doesn't matter unless you are cheese. Hahaha...
To start our day, we attended the Sunday Mass at the Roman Catholic Church, Our Lady Star of the Sea and Saint Anthony in St Mawes in the morning.
Then we went for a Sunday roast at The Rising Sun. The food is superb and the cake was lush. Had a great time listening to all the funny anecdotes of Rob Nicholls about boats and sailing while having some drinks.
After that hearty meal, we went for an enjoyable walk and jumping on the beach. And the winner for the highest jump is no other than the birthday boy.
Rob had a great time opening all his presents when we got home. Of course, the highlight of the evening is my present - PANASONIC VIDEO CAMERA. He absolutely loves it. He has a new toy to keep him busy bee.
Photographer: Rowena Castillo Nicholls
Videographer: Rob Nicholls
I know what you are thinking, that celebrating Valentine's Day is quite " cheezy"! But what can I do, I am a hopeless romantic.
In my teenage years, I fell in love with "Sweet Dreams", a series of over 230 numbered stand-alone teen romance novels. Later on, I became engrossed on mystery by "Nancy Drew", a fictional American character in a mystery fiction series and "The Hardy Boys", a mystery series and the detective handbook.
A few years later, I became a huge fan of "Historical Romance" most especially the one written by Judith Mc Naught and Johanna Lindsey, who are now my favourite authors. I keep 2 sets of copies on all their books, one in Cornwall and another one in the Philippines. I never get tired reading their books.
Rob surprise me with some lovely flowers, chocolates and a gorgeous card in bed.
As soon as I got home from work, I quickly cooked our Valentine's Dinner.
Starter - Mixed Pulses Soup.
Mains - Roast Organic Duck (marinated overnight in tangerine and ginger), Roast Cornish Pork (marinated overnight in lemon and rosemary) served with roast potatoes, onion stuffing and steamed veggies.
Dessert - Chocolate Sponge Cake served with Kelly's Chocolate and Vanilla Icecream. Sooo lush!
Photographer: Rowena Castillo Nicholls
Videographer: Rob Nicholls
Every year, I participate with RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch.
We have loads of bird feeders in our garden all throughout the year. Our garden has always been wildlife friendly. We have our wildlife residents as well as regular wildlife visitors.
Here's what we spotted today in our garden:
Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Greenfinch, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Robin, Song Thrush, Starling, Wren
Photographer: Rowena Castillo Nicholls
Videographer: Rob Nicholls
The festivities continues with the young ones... Our 1st starter was LENTIL SOUP. Our 2nd starter was POMEGRANATE and CLEMENTINE salad. Our main course was NOODLES with PORK and CABBAGE and ROAST PORK with WILD RICE. For dessert, we have quite a few selections from CHOCOLATE CAKE, CHOCOLATE MOUSSE, MACARONI SALAD and the ULTIMATE CHEESEBOARD.
I have 13 different kinds of ROUND-SHAPED FRUIT on my fruits tray. In the Philippines, 13 round fruits are traditionally are eaten on New Year’s Day since 13 is considered a lucky numbers. The best part is that fruits are filled with lots of vitamins and nutrients and can also protect against certain types of cancer. LENTIL is for luck. With their coin-like appearance, lentils are a natural symbol for luck. BLACK-EYED PEAS is for success. Black-eyed peas represent success because each pea represents a coin and a whole serving equals prosperity. PORK is for progress. Eating pork on New Year's Day symbolizes progress in several countries, as the pig is known for pushing forward. NOODLES is for longevity. A long noodle represents a long life. CABBAGE is for prosperity. Greens of any sort symbolize the almighty dollar. Have some cabbage and prosper in the New Year. POMEGRANATE is for good health. With so many delicious seeds inside a pomegranate, it's easy to understand how it represents an abundance of health, fertility and prosperity. ORANGES is for abundance. The Chinese culture considers oranges to represent good fortune, wealth and gold. In addition, oranges naturally ripen this time of the year, so you'll also enjoy an abundance of vitamin C. GRAPES is for happiness. Try the Spanish and Portuguese tradition of eating 12 grapes at midnight on New Year's Eve - sweet ones supposedly lead to 12 happy months. Gold, Yellow and Brown are the colours for 2017, the year of the rooster.
Photographer: Rowena Castillo Nicholls
Videographer: Rob Nicholls
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO MY FAMILY, RELATIVES and FRIENDS!!!
It’s been an enjoyable evening. Just me and Rob. We had our midnight dinner. Our 1st starter was LENTIL SOUP. Our 2nd starter was POMEGRANATE and CLEMENTINE salad. Our 1st main course was NOODLES with PORK and CABBAGE. Our 2nd main course was ROAST PORK and WILD RICE. We're sooo stuffed. We could not manage to eat the dessert. No more space in our tummy. We'll just have the CHOCOLATE CAKE, CHOCOLATE MOUSSE, MACARONI SALAD and the ULTIMATE CHEESEBOARD today.
We’ll just be chilling out at home and we’ll continue eating the rest of our food. Yum yum yum…
I have 13 different kinds of ROUND-SHAPED FRUIT on my fruits tray. In the Philippines, 13 round fruits are traditionally are eaten on New Year’s Day since 13 is considered a lucky numbers. The best part is that fruits are filled with lots of vitamins and nutrients and can also protect against certain types of cancer. LENTIL is for luck. With their coin-like appearance, lentils are a natural symbol for luck. BLACK-EYED PEAS is for success. Black-eyed peas represent success because each pea represents a coin and a whole serving equals prosperity. PORK is for progress. Eating pork on New Year's Day symbolizes progress in several countries, as the pig is known for pushing forward. NOODLES is for longevity. A long noodle represents a long life. CABBAGE is for prosperity. Greens of any sort symbolize the almighty dollar. Have some cabbage and prosper in the New Year. POMEGRANATE is for good health. With so many delicious seeds inside a pomegranate, it's easy to understand how it represents an abundance of health, fertility and prosperity. ORANGES is for abundance. The Chinese culture considers oranges to represent good fortune, wealth and gold. In addition, oranges naturally ripen this time of the year, so you'll also enjoy an abundance of vitamin C. GRAPES is for happiness. Try the Spanish and Portuguese tradition of eating 12 grapes at midnight on New Year's Eve - sweet ones supposedly lead to 12 happy months. Gold, Yellow and Brown are the colours for 2017, the year of the rooster.
Pendower Beach, Roseland Peninsula
Home Sweet Home, Grampound Road
Photographer: Rowena Castillo Nicholls
Videographer: Rob Nicholls
Went for a lovely walk in Pendower Beach with Kate today. Such a lovely weather. Sooo bright and sunny.
We saw quite a few sea birds and a carcass of a young dolphin on the beach.
After our lovely walk, we went back home to have dinner with Kate, Simon and Marc.
Photographer: Rowena Castillo Nicholls
Videographer: Rob Nicholls
Merry Christmas to one and all...
Yehey it's Christmas day! I can now open my gifts! Thank you to everyone who sent me messages, cards and most especially to those who sent me these lovely gifts. Your thoughtfulness is much appreciated.
Me and Rob had been busy cooking and preparing our Christmas dinner. It's so much fun doing it together. We're like kids playing. We thought we should do this every weekend. Hahaha...
For starters, I had prawn cocktail with mary rose sauce and Rob had baked camembert with rosemary and honey plus garlic bread.
For our mains, we both had my succulent, moist and juicy roast turkey with all the trimmings. I must say that my roast turkey is simply the best.
For dessert... we're supposed to have... chocolate bombe for me and Christmas pudding for Rob but we're already sooo stuffed that we decided to have it later on.
After all day, comes the best part - opening of gifts!!! Thank you to everyone who gave me some lovely pressie.
My gorgeous stepdaughter Anna and Becky plus their friend Nick came over in the evening. We all had dinner together and some drinks too. It's really great to see them on this special day. We even had an enjoyable game of scrabble on which I won.
Photographer: Rowena Castillo Nicholls
Videographer: Rob Nicholls
Nochebuena is the Spanish word for Christmas Eve. In Spain, Latin America, and the Philippines, the evening consists of a traditional family dinner. In the Philippines, the traditional dinner comes at midnight after the family hears the late evening Mass known as Misa de Aguinaldo.
For our Noche Buena, I've cooked a honey-glazed Ham with with pineapple and cherry, homemade apple sauce, wholemeal Da Bara bread, pickled chestnut, onion and beetroot, green and black olives, a luscious cheeseboard, macaroons, assorted pies, loads of different variety of fruits and a lot more... We had a feast!!!
Photographer: Rowena Castillo Nicholls
Videographer: Rob Nicholls
A few more hours and we're celebrating Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ, our Saviour.
The Castillo-Nicholls home is ready for the celebration. My dinner table is now set. Cheese board are all laid on the board plus biscuit, chutney, piccalilli, pate and pickles. Fruits are all in the basket and tray. Mixed nuts are on a jar and basket. Pastries and cake are on the tray. Mince Pie are on a plate. Got a gingerbread house too. My ham is now roasting in the oven. My turkey and lamb are marinating in the fridge. Wine, beer, cider and champagne are now cooling in the fridge. My Christmas tree outside is twinkling. Ohhh sooo excited!
But it would have been best if I am with my family - mommy Angie Castillo, daddy Leon Castillo, brother Russel Castillo, sis-in-law Myla Castillo, nephew Gabriel Angelo and Miguel Angelo and sistah Rachel Castillo. How I miss you sooo much most especially at this time. Love you loads. Hope next year we are all together.
St Just in Roseland Church, Roseland Peninsula
The Quarterdeck, Nare Hotel, Roseland Peninsula
Home Sweet Home, Grampound Road
Photographer: Rowena Castillo Nicholls
Videographer: Rob Nicholls
Happy 7th Wedding Anniversary my dear Rob Nicholls!!!
I love you for your thoughtfulness… Your understanding way… And for the countless little things you do for me each day…
I love you for the hopes and dreams you’ve helped to make come true… But most of all I love you for just being you…
With all my love, today and always...
To start our 7th Wedding Anniversary celebration, we went to our favourite church, St Just in Roseland Church, to thank God for blessing us with a wonderful life and for keeping us together despite our cultural differences and our love for each other to keep going stronger each day.
To celebrate our 7th Wedding Anniversary, we had a meal at our favourite restaurant, The Quarterdeck at The Nare Hotel. For starters, I'm having a "braised pig's cheeks with red wine lentils, pancetta and sage" while Rob is having a "creamy wild mushroom with poached eggs and roasted brioche". For mains, I'm having a "corn fed chicken breast, sticky shallots, rainbow chard, carrot puree and tarragon croquette" while Rob is having a "fish cake with rocket salad, tartar sauce and frites". For dessert, I'm having a "honeycomb cheesecake with oat crumble and lemon/thyme sorbet" while Rob is having a "roasted plums with candied almonds and vanilla sorbet". The food is sooo lushed! Superb! After that lushed and superb 3 course meal, a lovely cup of coffee is just what we need while relaxing and watching the amazing stormy sea. To end our celebration, we had an anniversary cake for us.
We went home and loads of presents awaits for both of us! Yipeee! Hooray!
Rowena
Castillo
Nicholls
● Dentist
● Author & Photographer
● Wildlife Advocate
● Well-being Advocate
● Education Advocate
● Sustainability Champion
● Race Ambassador
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For image use enquiries, please email Rowena Castillo-Nicholls at [email protected].
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