Balikbayan box

Do you know what one of those is?  I didn't either.

As per Wikipedia:

"A balikbayan box (literally "repatriate box") is a corrugated box containing items sent by overseas Filipinos (known as "balikbayan's"). Though often shipped by freight forwarders specializing in balikbayan boxes by sea, such boxes can be brought by Filipinos returning to the Philippines by air."

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As per this image this is what could be inside of one:

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I was reading an article in our newspaper about how there is a new school curriculum that engages Filipiono-Canadian students with lessons on immigrant life and culture.  They watched a documentary by Alex Humilde entitled "Balikbayans."  I tried to find information on this documentary but came up empty handed.

I know many immigrants send money back to their home countries to support relatives, but didn't realize there were businesses set up especially for sending boxes back.

When we first came to Canada we used to send gifts via mail for all special occasions.  However due to the rising price of shipping I don't do that very often now, I tend to order online and ship directly from the UK.  However I did send a package over to my mother last Wednesday and she got it in Britain on Saturday morning.  Fast or what!

So this was my new thing I learned about on Monday.  Always good to start your week off by learning something new, right?

Jack Straws anyone?

Do you remember this game from your childhood?

I ordered a few things from Lakeland Plastics and the game was one of those things.

The only problem with Lakeland Plastics is their delivery charge for non EU countries.  So I spent 30 pounds so I didn't have to pay shipping and get the order shipped to my mam and she ships it on for me.  Now the funny thing about my parcel, I ordered some candy, Licorice Alsorts amongst everything else.  So when my mam went to mail the parcel it was going to cost just over 30 pounds.  So the lady at the post office suggested she split the parcel up so it would be cheaper as it was over a certain weight.  Well it was decided that my mam and step-father would eat the candy and it ended up costing just over thirteen pounds.  So the cheap candy which cost two pounds would have cost me nineteen plus pounds.

Then she mails it ground which can take anywhere between six weeks to three months to get here.  It came in 8 days?  Go figure.......  My mam is going to Lakeland Plastics this next week, and the Lakeland Christmas catalog came on Friday, so need to study it to see if there is anything I need!!!

The trees are starting to change and the weather has been glorious these past few days.  Did put the flannel sheets on the bed as dh is cold, but still don't have the fire or heating on.

I was able to have a fire in the fire pit on Thursday as it was finally a calm day.  Look at all the weeds in my raspberry bushes, anyone fancy helping me weed them?