Hi to all ... friends old and young ... sorry, new!

Well, well, well. I bet you all thought that I'd vanished into oblivion after my departure from UK, some three and a bit years ago.

Truth be told, we've been quite busy and, well, we all know that FilipinoUK became a less desirable place to inhabit.

Anyway, Ruby and I are happily settled in Tagum city (really no bigger than a market town in UK) we have a daughter, a house, two farms ... and lots of Filipino red tape!

Still, on the whole, life as a farmer here is a lot more relaxed than that of an IT consultant in UK.

Life would have been even more relaxed if the recession hadn't decimated the income I expected to receive from UK investments. Still, we survive on much less than would have ever been possible in UK. Roll on 2019 when I can start to draw my pension!

It's good to know that a new home has been created for all friends from the past, and it's great to be able to join you all once more. I'm no longer sitting in front of a computer all day (Ruby might dispute that!), but I'll do my best to pop in here regularly.

Edit:
Oh, and in case you hadn't guessed from Ruby's username, our daughter's name is Sky!

Welcome, Peter and ruby.

Thanks for the welcomes, folks!

When writing a reply in another thread, I was reminded of a little more information to add here:

I guess that, technically, we have three farms - we also have a beach lot that is classified as agricultural land. We do, sometimes, harvest the coconuts there, but sell them 'baker', rather than 'copra' as we do on our fruit/coconut farm. The other farm is a, recently acquired, rice field.

The British Embassy in Manila operates a 'Warden' system, where British nationals act as a link between other British nationals living in their area, and the Embassy - I, foolishly, offered to the British Consul: "If you don't get any other volunteers, I'll have a go at acting as warden for the Tagum area." I think that you can probably guess the outcome!

Hi there Peter, I just welcomed Ruby a little while ago.
Welcome here to the forum. Hope you'll be able to pop in from time to time and provide some little gems from your experience.
As I mentioned to Ruby, my wife has many friends and a lot more relatives all around that area. She was born in the Pantukan area. I have spend some very interesting and happy times in Tagum. Funnily enough I never came across any other "white guy" during my times there. Some time ago now though.
Anyway, welcome aboard Peter great to have you here

Hey peter, welcome here ... it's been a long time since I have seen any trace of you! You're welcome here, and I am glad to hear that you're doing well over there, ... so welcome PeterB, and MrsB and hello to your wee one also lol

Hi Peter and Ruby I just love all that red tape to bits lol

Peter and the clan, welcome. Pull up a chair and make yourself at home

welcome aboard PeterB!!!

Ha! We've just had another 'red tape' incident today!

When we arrived back in Phils in December 2007, we bought a car, registered in Ruby's name (before we were married, and before we had our own home).

Now, there was an extra complication that, at the time of LTO registration, there were no reg. plate stickers available. The car dealer provided us a photocopy of the OR (Original Receipt) and CR (Certificate of Registration) from LTO, but kept the originals in order to claim the stickers when they became available.

Despite our repeated visits to the dealer and requests for the stickers, they were never forthcoming. Lately, with a change of staff, the dealer admitted that they could no longer find the original documents.

So now, with the original 3 year registration expiring, we needed to renew, for which we require the original documents. So, here we are, with no official docs, wanting to change name and address on the vehicle registration!

New safeguards now demand that, in cases of such changes, the vehicle has to undergo inspection by the Police Forensic department, which includes the the taking of 'stencil' copies (essentially, a brass rubbing) of the chassis and engine numbers.

Now, I guess that this wouldn't normally be too much of a problem (compared to all other Filipino red tape), but the forensic staff had been absent for the last two days - hence there was a long queue of vehicles awaiting inspection. We were number 30 in the queue! After waiting two and a half hours, the 'inspector' got around to looking at our Mitsubishi Pajero (Shogun). Having performed a few contortions, he proclaimed that he could not gain adequate access to the engine serial number in order to take the 'stencil' by the prescribed method. Thus, we made calls to the dealership, and they sent a couple of mechanics out to dismantle parts of the car in order to facilitate access.

Thus it was that, at one point, we had three Mitsubishi dealer staff, and four police officers, all crowded round our engine compartment at the same time! (I do have some photos, but can't post or link on the forum until I make a few more posts.)

Finally, with the light failing, we left the Police Barracks at around 6pm. Tomorrow, all the necessary paperwork will be taken to LTO with the hope of obtaining new CR, OR and stickers. We will see, but are not holding our breath!

i just about cracked up at that. I am easily amused. sorry!

PeterB, I just enjoyed your red-tape story. Yes, really enjoyed.
Hopefully there will be a happy-ending. I'm sure there will.

You like toilet jokes?

Peter dont forget the visit to the lawer so you can swear that the "rubbings" really where taken from your car lol