Northumbria Numbers

I once had a car – a black Honda Civic ESI – which I loved because Hondas are very customizable cars. There are lots of body kits to choose from, as well as car seats, steering wheels, lights, sounds, the works! The more passionate crowd even personalize their license plates to make the car truly their own.

Northumbria Numbers take car registrations to a higher level through its cherished number plates service. Located in Northumberland (a county in the NorthEast of England), Northumbria Numbers has over ten years’ experience in car registrations for UK cars and motorcycles, and has a website that gives potential and existing customers alike the convenience to look for the cherished number plates of their choice.

The website is very straightforward and functional. It has a search engine which allows you to check the availability of your desired plate number. There are also guides to ensure your choice is in conformance with registration laws. The more popular plates are compiled for easy reference.

The history of Number Plates and the Laws governing it are included in the site as part of its Information Section, which truly gives Northumbria Numbers credibility in their operations. And customers can take confidence in their services, as the company is a member of The Cherished Numbers Dealers Association (CNDA).

For Filipinos who are just as passionate with their cars and motorcycles, such a service would surely be popular as well. Though I have encountered none here so far, save for occasional commemmorative plates and special license plates you can buy at a premium.

* This post is for Northumbria Numbers

Meatless March?

What did I get myself into?

That's what came first into my mind when I saw the Green Thing task for the month of March: easy on the meat.

I am quite an easy person to feed, as I eat nearly anything I am served (save for those raw sea urchin and other exotics). And I do confess... I love longganisa (sausages) in the morning, burgers in the movie, chicken on any meal. And I have veggies on the side.

But have veggies take center stage?

As I saw my meat-eating life flash before my eyes, I saw a glimmer of hope:

"So this month, do your bit for the planet by going Easy On The Meat. You don’t have to go complete veggie – chopping out a couple of portions a week would be a fine effort."

I have the firm conviction that vegetarianism is a whole new philosophy in life by itself, and right now I'm following another: the food pyramid. Hmmm... the portion of the meat side in the pyramid has gotten smaller the last time I saw it...

But, as with most things when it concerns the environment, it's not about the individual. It's about the welfare of the people and the world in general. I mean, what's the use of saying you're an environmentalist if you don't imbibe it in your life? But that's not to say I'm going completely vegetarian. So for this task, I will lay off the meat as often as I can. There will be unavoidable circumstances (like yesterday when my family had lunch at Jollibee and there was nothing but chicken and burgers, and ever since I've been having pasta at Amici, sweet spaghetti doesn't sound appetizing anymore), but for the times when there are alternatives, I will endeavour to be easy on the meat (like lunchtime awhile ago at the cafeteria ... I skipped the kare-kare, pork giniling, adobo, and tinola - all 4 are my favorites! I couldn't believe I skipped them all - and got for myself a piece of fried dalagang bukid and some veggies cooked in coconut milk. Fish isn't included in the meat category, is it?

Incidentally, Holy Week is upon us so it makes sense to take it easy on the meat. I'll just figure out what my alibis will be for the coming months. Until then, I will be seeing green this March.

Carrots, anyone?

Free WiFi Boss, Free WiFi!

I am occasionally asked where we can get free WiFi access in Makati. Obviously, they're the gadget people, walking around with internet savviness oozing from their being. Personally, I have not been paying attention to where we can get free WiFi until recently, when I acquired an iPhone. Now, I can't seem to stop looking around for places with a "free WiFi" sign on them. Well, here's one in Glorietta... at Burger King!

I am quite fond of their Whopper and so their menu list is not new to me. But it's been a while since I last visited their store. Once upon a time, they had a serve-yourself bottomless drinks. But that was hastily removed because the place gets pretty messy and freeloaders just can't seem to get enough of the free drinks. After that, Burger King seemed just like another ordinary place to get ... well, burgers. But when we got a chance to drop by last week, the place looked quite different. Pop art adorned the walls, and they now attract a new crowd: the laptop-lugging group. The density of computer presence in this area is most profound. And it's because of .... free WiFi!

Not only that. They show a free movie at 2PM! I wonder when we can come here for an afternoon meeting. Tee hee!
The brightly-lit notice at the left side of the photo below is a mobile phone charging station. Also for free!
I'm a big fan of apple pies so I got excited when I saw this new item in the menu. It did not meet my expectations, unfortunately. True, there were apple bits, but the crust was all mushy, and it's a tad too sweet for me.
The free WiFi access is an attractive come-on for people who want to conduct a meeting and need the internet access. Does 2PM sound fine? :-)

***

Congratulations to the winners of the 100,000 Hurrahs "contest"! They are:

Zherwin, who said:
"WOW six figures? sana piso bawat visitor no? hehehe congratulations! it's been a long time na rin pala since my first visit here, i think it was your post on Puerto Galera (the one with Sadako?) or something puerto galera that i wrote my first comment? and i also bookmarked your Oh My Gulay post, for future references hehe. :)"

Leah, who said:
"... I like your blog because (although I lag in my visits)you feature stories about Baguio. I like yor photos and the scenic snaps you share with your readers on your travels plus all the food trippings ofcouse. I am glad I discovered your blog. I remember your entry on the Panagbenga and I really liked the landscape photos you published."

Toni, who said:
"I like it when you write about Baguio. Through this blog, we've come to get to know this home of yours. I don't have one favorite Baguio post, but those that I recall fondly are all Baguio-related. There's the entry you submitted to the Oh My Gulay Lasang Pinoy carnival, the food you eat in Baguio, reuniting with family on weekends. They're homey posts, and that's why I like them!"

Group hug! Group hug! Congratulations again, and I hope you like what my wife and I bought you at the Panagbenga fair!