Going To The Hairdressers

 If I lived in England I would probably try different hairdressers, maybe experimenting with different styles and colors.  Mainly because I suck at Japanese I stick to the same place (I do the same for doctors and dentists).  Being familiar with the process and knowing that they understand what I want without having to explain each time helps a lot.  This is all part of the anixety I have living here!  I've been going to same hairdressers for about 30 years, I always get the same style, a short bob and color, brownish (but in some light it looks purple).  The hairdressers are two sisters.  I started going there because the younger sister spoke a bit of English, she had spent two years working in England doing hair and make up on commericals.  I felt comfortable going to her, she could understand what I wanted.  As the years have past she has lost her English and I have gained some confidence in Japanese.  When I went today I was supprised to see the older sister working.  Apparently the younger one has stopped working!!  I felt rather sad.  The older sister did my hair and it looks nice but I missed the lady that usually does mine.  I'm also wondering how much longer the older sister can work, she has just turned 74!!!  I guess at some point I'm going to have to look for a new hairdressers!!

My hairdressers, not a good photo!!

Lists

 Yesterday I was looking for something in one of my draws, can't remember what I was looking for but I came across an old notebook from 2015.

This notebook had pages of  'To Do' lists.  It was interesting to see that most things on the list were the same, clean the garden, clean places in the house, etc.  At first glance, I felt that I haven't changed, that my To Do lists now are the same but after reading more I realized that some things I no longer write on my To Do lists as they have become habits.  For example, one thing that was on every list was to sweep and mop the corridors and stairs.  I now do that (or get somebody to do it) two or three times a week.  Another was mopping the kitchen floor ( I don't like cleaning floors) but again I've developed a habit of doing it so I no longer need to write it down.  

In our day-to-day lives sometimes it feels like nothing changes.  I still struggle with my weight (even though I have lost about 17kgs from my heaviest), and money is still tight but seeing the little things that have changed, the habits that I have developed gives me hope to be able to conquer other areas of my life and make things better and easier for me. 

I'm going to make a list of things that need to be done for our move.  I am hoping to move next October, we can stay until January 2025 but I think it would be hard in the very cold weather.  Maybe having a list and being able to cross things off as we get them done will stop me from being overwhelmed.

Of course a cat story.  Two of the cats had a big fight yesterday morning.  David's room,  the corridors and the stairs looked like a crime scene with fur and blood everywhere.  I thought one of the cats must been badly injured but all we could see was on deep scratch on Steve's front paw.  Hannah and I managed to clean it up and he didn't need stitches.  Took ages to get all the blood cleaned up and a lot of David's books have blood stains on them.

Steve who got hurt in the fight

And Fred the other culprit

August

 What a month!

Started with Christopher getting Covid and ended with Mikey in hospital.  In between were birthdays, almost a typhoon, sick cat, Obon holiday and terrible heat!!

Both Christopher and Mikey are better.  Mikey is still getting tired very quickly but after being in bed for 4 days I think it takes time to recover 100%.  He has an appointment tomorrow.  Let's hope this is all finished.

My birthday hit me hard.  Something about turning 61 was hard, harder than last year.  Feeling that most of my life is behind me and not that much before me!  I want to make the most of everyday, try and live a good, fulfilling life while I can.  To do that I have to take my health more seriously.  Since May and Hannah's birthday I've found it hard to resist sugar and carbs.  I say every morning from today no more sugar or carbs, I get to the afternoon then I get overwhelmed with craving and have just a bit, which leads more bits.  Even with that I haven't put on weight and have lost another kilo.  I could of and should of have lost more.  September is a new start and with the weather cooling down I can move and find things to do instead of sitting reading and watching TV.  I am planning to start knitting again, which helps as you can't knit and eat!!

Fluffy, who got sick with flea allergies is a lot better. She isn't over grooming any more but we really need to do something about the fleas.  Need to deep clean and keep up with the meds for the cats.  Even though it's expensive it's worth it.  Hannah has a really bad reaction if she gets bitten!  So yes, more cleaning.  I've managed to keep the downstairs rooms clean, not 100% but a lot better.  Bedrooms need to be tackled.  Always something.

I'm hoping that Septembe will be good, that the weather cools down so I can get some things done.  The one thing I'm not looking forward to is my allergies starting up again!!  

A few photos from August.

Cool place to sleep on the tiles

Hannah going to see a musical

David's birthday

Poor Fluffy

Mikey Is Home

 Mikey came home yesterday morning.  He ate a bit of lunch and then had a rest, I think he liked being in his own bed!!  I offered to do his evening classes but he wanted to do them.  Maybe lying in a bed for 4 days was enough for him.  This morning he came down at 7am and went for a walk.  I feel that getting so sick was a wake-up call for him. 

This morning we went to a local community center to teach English.  It's basically volunteer thing that we do once a month.  It's nice to get to teach adults, teaching kids is fun but hard work!!!  Teaching adults is more relaxing for me.  Teaching with Mikey is nice, he is very outgoing and gets everybody talking (and laughing).  

Across from the community center is a playing field that has a lovely tree on the edge. 

This was from the last time we went, today it was hot and sunny!  I love that big tree.

David managed to cut down some of the weeds yesterday.  As he was cutting he found a rather big hive, not honey bees, maybe wasps.  Something else to look out for.

I Have My Work Cut Out For Me

 Before I get into the moaning part of this post some good news!!

Mikey is a lot better.  He was on a drip from Friday evening and not allowed to eat.  He said that he was feeling a lot better.  He had some lunch today, fish and miso soup, two things that he doesn't like! He has managed to keep the meal down and has no pain, so hopefully he will be discharged tomorrow.  

Hannah received her grade for the past semester, GPA of 3.3.  Very good, she is on track to graduate.  Yesterday she went to the city to see a musical.  She enjoyed herself.  Looked very grown up in her new dress.  I know she is 21 and an adult but she is still my little girl.

Looking smart!

David dropped her off at the station, on the way he stopped for gas, Hannah got this interesting photo

Hannah and David

They really look alike!

Now to the moaning part.

This morning David and I went to the other house.  I haven't been since June,  it's just too hot for me.  the electricity is turned off so there is no air conditioning and I think the units in the house are too old.  This is what greeted me!

The weeds have just taken over!!  So have to sort that out as well as the interior of the house.

The problem is the yard here is just as bad!

Back of the house

The passage to the back of the house before

And after

So looks like getting up early and getting it done, again!!!!

Mikey.......Again

 The past week or so Mikey has been complaining of chest pains.  It got so bad Monday night that he went to the emergency room, he just wanted something to help him sleep.  Tuesday he slightly better but worse again on Wednesday.  Thursday he went to a local clinic, there he was diagnosed with some kind of indigestion and given a load of medicine.  When I came downstairs Friday morning I found Mikey lying on the sofa, he had spent the night in pain and throwing up.  I told him to go to the hospital that I use, it's a medium size hospital but they have a lot of diagnostic tools, X-ray machine, CT scan, MRI and there own lab so blood tests come back in about an hour.  Mikey drove himself to the hospital,  2 hours later he sent me a text.  He has to stay in the hospital, he has gallstones!  They have started him on a drip but if that doesn't work he will have to have an operation.  I decided to take some things to Mikey and also we needed to pick up the car.  David and I got a taxi, I thought we might end up in the hospital with the way the driver was driving, 10 minute drive and 3 near misses, when I got out I was shaking!!  We found Mikey waiting to talk to the doctor again and sign some papers.  We talked for a while, he seemed okay, I think he was glad that they had found the problem and it's treatable.  Gallstones are awful, I have them, most of the time they are okay but when they flare up it's the worse pain ever!!!  The next thing was to figure out where Mikey had parked the car, there are two big car parks.  Mikey said he had parked on the second car park, David wanted to to know where exactly instead of wondering around in the heat.  Mikey's answer was a classic!!  Next to the old peoples bus!!! This started us laughing because one time Hisao forgot where he parked the car, when I asked where, he said next to the yellow car!!!

Today is going to be busy.  I have to do Mikey's classes as well as my own.  I have no idea how next week is going to be as some of the classes are at the community center which I can't get to!!

Mikey with his balloon puppet!

My Birthday

 Yesterday was my birthday. Sixty-one (big sigh).  This birthday has been hard to deal with, not the number but how I feel about it.  

The past week or so I've been feeling rather down, just thinking about getting old.  I couldn't figure out why this birthday bothered me so much.  I realized that the problem is not with the number but that what I had hoped my future would be and my reality is so different and there is nothing I can do about it.    

In my 40's I use to imagine that once the kids were grown up Hisao and I would take off on little adventures, we would travel, go on day trips, have time together.  But, of course that is never going to happen.  I also thought my kids would be married and settled, maybe even a grandkid or two,  but that hasn't happened either.

Instead I am left with having to move again.  From a house and area that I have grown to love and feel comfortable in to a house and area that that I don't like.  I know that I'll never feel the other house is home.  I thought that at this age I would be settled, taking things easy, not having to worry about money or where we will live.  But again I have to deal with a lot of things that make my life feel overwhelming.  I don't want to move.  I've tried so hard to be positive about it but all I see is a lot of hard work and no real reward.  

Yesterday David treated us to sushi and donuts.  Nice!

sushi, Fluffy got put out!!

To end this rather depressing post some good news.  David got a promotion at work.  He is now the senior staff member for his shift!!