Finally

 The weather is cooling down.  Days are still hot, low 30 degrees, better than nearly 40 degrees.  Evenings, nights and mornings are lovely.  Lower 20 degrees.  It's so nice not to have to use the air conditioner all night,  I usually put it on for about an hour on dry mode, it's still very humid, so that really helps.  

The other morning I decided that since it's rather cool I should tackle the garden.  The weeds are as tall as me in some places!  I was really determined to make a difference but after 15 minutes I couldn't do anymore, my back and legs were very painful.  I did a bit and I guess it's a start.  I've asked the kids to help on Sunday, I'm hoping that we can get a lot done if we all pitch in!

One thing that I've noticed as the weather cools down the cats have started to fight more. I think that when it's too hot the cats just don't have the energy to fight.  The past few nights Hannah and I have been racing up and down stairs to stop the cats fighting!!

Still warm enough to lie like this!!!

What A Night

 It all started with bugs on the window, stink bugs!!!  The nights are rather cool so I want to open the windows instead of using the air conditioning.  So I opened the window and kept the screen closed, I noticed two or three stink bugs.  Two or three I could deal with, as long as they stay away from the small holes and don't come inside.  I sat reading for a while, looked up and found the screen covered in these bugs.

That's only half of them!!

So I closed the window and put on the air conditioner!

Got into bed, just drifting off when one of the cats started to meow and scratch at my door.  Got out of bed to find Fred sitting there, he suffers from seperation anixety (yes it is a thing in cats!).  So I petted him and talked to him for a bit, he calmed down and I went back to bed for all of 30 minutes.  Fred again, really pitiful meowing.  Got up, again, went and sat in David's room for about half an hour, just playing with Fred, again he seemed settled, back to bed.  Again the cats started, this time Fred and Mama, it's now 3am and I've had about one hours sleep!  Hannah got up and fed them, good, maybe I can get some sleep.  But of course not, after they had eaten Fred and Alan got into a fight, gripping each others throats,  fur flying, cats flying around.  Hannah helped to seperate them, I got my feet scratched up.  We locked Fred downstairs in the living room and left Alan in the corridor.  It was now just after 4am, I finally got to sleep. Talk about a wild night!!  I thought that having 4 children I would be use to this but not really.  Today is very busy with teaching and I am so miserable!!  I hope tonight will be better!!!

Fred

David and Alan

Not Finished

 This morning I had tests done because of the cancer I had 5 years ago.  Mammogram, CT scan, echo scan and blood work.  I was feeling very happy, five years finished, this will be the last tests, no more waiting for hours in the hospital.  Went through all the tests, then went to see the doctor.  He checked the results and said everything looks good and I don't need any more medicine.  He then threw me a curve ball by saying see you next March.  I must of looked really suprised because he went on to explain that with most cancers 5 years is the end of the checks but with the type of cancer I had I have to get checks for a total of 10 years!!  I then had to wait to see another doctor about my diabetes.  Even though I haven't been very good the past few months my numbers are down and looking good.  Got to get back on the band wagon, try to cut down on sugar and carbs even more.

Hannah with my friend's baby

One of my friends stopped by the other day.  It was so nice to sit and chat for a while.  Her husband came, he has offerd to help with the garden at the othe house.  Hannah enjoyed playing with the baby.  The baby was fascinated and scared of the cats, he kept pointing at them but if they moved he would walk away!!  Very cute to watch.

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.