Eight Years

 Yesterday was 8 years since Hisao passed away!  Some days it feels like it just happened, other days it seems like a lifetime ago.

This year it has hit me harder than other years. Part of it is the difficulties caused by the pandemic.  Most years I treat Hannah to a musical as part of her Christmas presents.  We spend the whole day out, lunch, musical, then the Christmas Market on the way back.  This year there are no musicals and I don't want to risk going to the city as I know it will be crowded. Also I go to Costco for Christmas dinner, again I don't want to risk it.  Even on a week day it is crowded.  

This year I've stayed home, baked cookies for the students, done Christmas parties and tried to not get too down!

Hannah has another test today for her 2nd choice university, hope she passes this time.

It took 3 hours to get this photo!

Not sure where the last two photos were taken!

Half Way Through December

 Poor Hannah didn't get into her first choice for university.  It was a long shot to begin with.  One thing in Japan the name of the school that you have attended is very important.  Hannah's high school a commercial school, which is considered rather low ranking.  Hannah did get the test results that she needed, for 3 years her average was 4.2 (5 is the highest, to attend university 4 is needed), she studied hard for the entrance test but didn't make it.  Rather disappointing. She has a test for another place next week.  The problem is the other university doesn't have junior high school teachers course, which is what Hannah wanted to do.  This other university is for elementary school teachers, but it does have special needs which is what Hannah is really interested in.  

Because of all the drama with Hannah I have only just put up our Christmas tree. I use to do two or three, now only one.  One problem is the cats, the one I put up is in a room the cats aren't allowed in.  Another is just not having enough energy to do anything.  This year I am not doing a typical Christmas dinner.  The only place to get the meat is Costco, which is always crowded and with Covid still hanging around I don't want to risk it.  So this year we are having KFC, typical Japanese Christmas dinner!  You actually have to preorder, stating what time you want to pick it up.  We'll eat around 4 o'clock as Mikey has a magic show at 1 o'clock.

Our little tree

Pink cat? No just the sun through the curtains

The Catch Up Post!

 I didn't realize it had been so long since I wrote!  I thought a month had passed, not two!

October was busy with tests that our students take and of course Halloween.  Didn't do so much this year, my health just isn't up to it.  Also not so many kids came, maybe because of Covid 19.   But the kids had fun!

Some of the cookies and my Halloween table!

November got busy as two new supermarkets opened.  They offer a a larger range of products, so I've been shopping a lot, not good for my purse!

The other big thing was Hannah's test for university.  The test was 3 parts, an essay, English test and an interview.  She worked really hard but has no confidence that she has passed.  One problem in Japan is the brand idea, certain schools are more prestigious than others, so even if you do badly on the test you get a place just because of your school!  Hannah's school is good but not that high rank.  Still she tried her best and now we have to wait for the results, December 7th is the date that they are announced!

Small Things Make Me Happy!

 A new supermarket opened just down the road from me!  I've been to another branch of the supermarket a few times but that one is a good 40 minutes drive from here, the new one just 5 mins!!!  One thing I love about this supermarket is that they do a lot of import goods at very good prices.  Tins of kidney beans, lentils and mixed beans for 97 yen(about 70 pence).  Brussel sprouts, frozen of course, for about 200 yen (about 1.50 pounds).They have  a lot of things that I want to try, so I guess that is going to be my new place.  Two other supermarkets that I use regularly are closed for remodelling and I can't wait for them to open!  See small things make me happy!!

We are already getting ready for Halloween.  The kids that we teach English to have four lessons in a month so getting the seasonal stuff out early enough is important.  Mikey has this easy reader book with ghost stories in that he reads to the kids, he reads the English and then translates it into Japanese!!  I love hearing the kids squeal and giggle!

Our little Halloween table, need a few more things to put on!

Hannah really amazes me sometimes!  She is getting nervous about her entrance tests for university, which is understandable.  The other day I was teaching a girl that was Hannah's class mate in elementary school.  This girl is a lot more nervous than Hannah!  Hannah talked to her after her class and really encouraged her to have a positive mind set, saying that you have to believe that you belong in the university.  I'm glad that she can think like that!

End of September

 We survived the typhoon.  It wasn't as strong when it hit us but still very strong!  The whole house was shaking, really not fun.  Some places were hit very bad, landslides and flooding in many areas!  Hannah had a day off school which she was happy about!

I've been suffering from painful knees, more my right knee than the left one.  Somedays I can't walk, other days it seems okay!  Went back to the doctors today.  Same thing, loose weight!  I know what to do but doing it seems so hard.  I am really down with the pain and exhaustion, no sleep because of the pain.  When I get this low I eat, which I know doesn't help in the long run.  I would love to start walking in the evenings, 30 minuets two or three times a week.  If I could do that it would help change my mind set a bit.  Let's see how this pain medication works!!

Our cats are doing well.  They can sleep anywhere! One problem we have is Alan, the older black cat doesn't settle at night, he wants to be with somebody.  Some nights he is outside my door scratching away for ages!

The next couple of months are going to intense for Hannah.  End of November is her university entrance test.  She is studying hard but is getting nervous!  I'll be glad when it's all finished!

Typhoo Season

 End of August and September are the typhoon months in Japan.  Although in the past few years we've been having them as early as June!  Where we live we have been very lucky recently as we have only caught the edge of the storm or as it weakens, so rain and a bit of wind.

This weekend we are expecting a monster typhoon. The center pressure is 920hPa, at the moment and it is still over the sea, which means it could get stronger.  I always gauge how bad the storms are going to be by other peoples reactions!  I went shopping yesterday, there was no bread, no bottled water, very little milk.  Things like rope and flash lights had also sold out.  This was at a large supermarket.  This morning I went to my local supermarket.  I arrived just before opening and there was a line around the store!  I managed to get some bread, but it was a real fight.  A loaf of bread has either 5 or 6 slices in it, so I usually get two loaves.  This morning as I got to the bread corner there was only about 5 loaves left! I managed to grab some!

On the way back I saw people tying down car ports and cleaning yards of anything that can fly away.  

I'll let you know how it was next week.  My biggest worry is loosing power or water!

David

 At the end of March David joined the Japanese Army.  Unfortunately his career came to a halt with a medical discharge!  About 2 weeks into basic training his knees were very painful. He went to the base doctor, who took x rays, couldn't see anything, gave David some strong pain killer and sent him on his way. The next day David did a 10K hike in full gear.  His knees were so bad after that that he couldn't walk.  He was taken to the large hospital in the city where he was given an MRI.  He has stress fractures, one on the knee, the other was on the inside of the tibia, which why it didn't show up on the x ray. The doctor said that with rest it would take 6 weeks to two months to recover.  But David couldn't rest.  So even now 5 months later he is still in pain, he can't run or jump and is wary of riding his bicycle.   He came home and got a part time job while deciding what to do.  He is working at a local 7-11.  He said that a lot of his co workers are foreigners so he is helping them with their Japanese!

Saturday was David's 26th birthday!  Christopher bought him some books and Mikey got him some games.  I wanted to cook a nice meal but I'm also having problems with my knees and standing for any length of time is very painful.  I'm going to the doctors this afternoon to get stronger pain medicine!

David doesn't like his photo being taken, we managed to get a few silly shots!

David with a bag on his head!

with one of the cats

David really loves the cats and is very good at taking care of them.  But the other day he grabbed one of the kittens and wiped the sweat from under his arms on it.  The other cats came sniffing around and started to gag on the smell!

Selfie and a selfie of Fred