Finally

 I made a start on sorting and packing.

We have two rooms that we use to teach in, sometimes Mikey and I have classes at the same time.  The main room is kept tidy, most of the time but the second room is a dumping ground and recently it became very bad, embarrassingly bad! 

looks like a hoarders place!!

I can't believe I let it get so bad, I think I was going around with my eyes closed!

So today Christopher and Hannah helped to sort, box up and throw out.  Christopher was good at moving the boxes and bookshelves out, Hannah was good at throwing things away.  I want to keep things but Hannah would just say you don't need it!!  We got about 5 bags of trash from two bookshelves, big bags!  Not finished but a very good start!

Also found some interesting things!

Hisao's notebook

Found an old notebook that Hisao was using to sketch out our first leaflet.  This notebook is 33 years old! 

Old marker pen

This pen as well.  Hisao made a lot of materials when we first started to teach so he bought a lot of marker pens!!  

I wonder what else I'll find as I sort out things!!

High Tech Japan????

 I'm on several Facebook groups about Japan.  Some of them are for expats who call Japan home, some are for tourists looking for ideas and some are people who haven't been here but love Japan and all things Japanese.  The last groups posts are the most frustrating, they see Japan through rose-colored glasses. One thing that comes up a lot is how high-tech Japan is.  It's true that Japan does have a lot of technology in place.  For example, last November Mikey and I went to a restaurant, we were greeted by a machine that asked how many were in our party, then gave a ticket with our table number on it.  At the table, the menus were already there and an iPad to order.  The meal arrived on a robot.  The only staff interaction was when Mikey's meal came, he had ordered a hamburger steak and it was served on a very hot iron plate.  Also paying was a staff member.  I liked to go to the restaurants and be greeted by the staff, then seated and also order from a person so I could ask questions.  

The same is true in most stores.  Self-checkouts are normal.  In some places, the staff still scan the products and you pay at a machine, but recently, doing everything yourself is getting more popular.  I miss the interaction with the staff and a chance to practice my Japanese.  Also, I feel some elderly people miss the chance to talk.  There are a lot of old people who live by themselves and the only conversation they get is going to the store and chatting with the staff.  Even if it's only basic greeting, it means something to lonely people.    

But Japan still relies on older technology.  Every week for the past 15 years our phone rings and it's somebody trying to send a fax.  Yes, that is still a thing in Japan.  Most businesses send faxes to each other.  I have no idea why.  Email is just as fast, then there are many different messaging apps that are free to use but faxes are the way to go.

Then there's this.

A telephone directory

Who uses these anymore?  This was delivered to me last week.  I have no idea why.  Even though I can't read or write Japanese using my phone I can find most businesses, dentists, and hospitals in this area and beyond.  Last week I wanted to go to a supermarket, they have a store in this city but I wanted to go to a bigger one in the next city.  I put the name in Google Maps, in a few seconds I got a list of stores, with telephone numbers, directions and opening times.  If I tried to use the telephone book it would have taken a lot longer, I would have to use an app on my phone to translate the Japanese.  Also because I had an idea where the store was but not the address it would have taken longer to figure out which store I wanted to go to.

So high-tech Japan?  Yes and no!!

 

Beautiful Moon Rise

 Hannah came back from her part-time job last night saying that the moon was very beautiful. She said that it was low, big and very bright.  I love seeing the moon (and the stars) so I asked "Where's the moon".  David's answer was "In the sky?"  What I wanted to know was what direction to look in, as sometimes it's difficult to see because of the buildings.  Christopher and Hannah understood what I meant. Anyway, Christopher, Hannah and I went out, we took some photos, not the best but you can get an idea of how beautiful it was.

From the store where Hannah works

outside our house

When we went back in David was still laughing.  I know asking where the moon is might be mildly funny but not that funny.  I asked what had him laughing so much, he said that me asking where the moon was reminded him of a conversation I had with Hannah the other morning about the dustpan.

The conversation went something like this:

Hannah: " Does anybody know where the dustpan is?"

Me:  "Yes, I do"

Hannah, tapping her foot at my not-helpful answer: " Where is it?"

Me, now I know I saw the dustpan and I can visualize where it is but can't explain: "It's there"

Hannah, now getting frustrated: "MOM"

I sat and thought for a bit, then answered: "It's in the bag of fresh cat litter"

Hannah goes to the next room, muttering about me teaching English.

Just another normal day here!

The House, Cats And A New Gadget

 Went to the other house today. Haven't been for a while so I thought I should check on things.  I thought that new houses were being built behind us but it looks like they have just cleared the old house and overgrown yard.  At least it looks a lot better.  In my mind, I thought that most had been done but looking today I can see that there is still a lot to be done. I've decided to not even try to get anything done there for the next month, it's just too cold.  I'll focus on cleaning and packing here, then from March do as much as possible before the extreme heat starts.  I'm really no good at weather extremes.

The cats are driving me crazy. Yes, they are cute and yes I really love them but the constant fighting is too much.  Almost every day two or three will start with the yowling and hissing.  If somebody doesn't separate them at that point there is fur flying and blood splatters on the floor and wall!! The other morning I came down and the corridor looked like something from CSI.  What really gets me is that they fight, then curl up together to sleep. I really don't understand cats!!

All curled up together

And my new gadget is a blood pressure monitor.  The last few times at the doctor my blood pressure has been a bit high so the doctor suggested buying one to use at home.  Tried it yesterday and my reading was a bit high but not as bad as at the doctors.  I hope that by losing more weight, and getting my diabetes under control that this will sort itself out!!

blood pressure monitor

Hospital

 On Wednesday, I had my hospital appointment, a blood check for diabetes and an echo check for my heart.  My appointment was at 10:50 but I got there early to do the checks, the hospital has its own laboratory, so everything is done on-site.  Somehow on Wednesday, the hospital was very busy so I didn't get to see the doctor until 12:00.  Never mind, everything was okay.  My numbers for diabetes were slightly higher but the doctor said that was normal after Christmas and New Year.  My weight is back to pre-Christmas weight.  So now I have to work to drop a few more (a lot more!!!) kilos and start some exercise.  I can do this, I have to do this!  

The weather is still very cold.  It snowed most of Tuesday and Wednesday.  I was shocked at how heavy it was coming down Wednesday morning.

I took this video while waiting to get my medicine, the building is the hospital.

Hannah had a bit of excitement coming home yesterday.  She is usually back by 7 o'clock on Thursdays, but last night she missed her train and had to wait for the next one.  No problem, she just got the next train, but three stations before here somebody pulled the emergency brake.  The staff asked over the PA system if there was a doctor or nurse on the train.  An ambulance came and somebody was taken off the train.  Hannah said that the paramedics didn't try to do anything on the train, which could mean either the person wasn't very bad and didn't need help right there or the other extreme, that the person had died.  Hannah was a bit shaken up by this but my thoughts were very different.  Of course, I felt sorry for whoever collapsed and for their family but at the same time I felt grateful to live in a country that has a system where getting medical help is relatively easy.   We've had to call the ambulance a number of times and I'm always impressed by the professionalism shown by the paramedics.  My only gripe is that they never know which hospital to take you to.  Now I know this area and which hospitals are good and which have good diagnostic machines I can ask which one to go to!!  

Tomorrow is busy teaching.  Sunday I hope to start cleaning out things here.  I've decided not to try and go to the other house until March.  It's just too cold there.  So I want to concentrate on cleaning, packing and throwing out stuff here.  My goal is to move in October and I know time will go fast!!  Wish me luck!

Snow

 We have snow!!

Not a lot but this area almost never gets snow that sticks.  We get a few flurries but not the ground-covering kind.  The ground is usually too warm for the snow to stick.  I'm actually very surprised by the amount of snow we have and more is forecasted for tomorrow!

the yard at 5pm!!

Last week was rather mild, with a high of about 14C.  I'm glad that I don't have to go out!  I do have a hospital appointment tomorrow, diabetes check, but the hospital is just a few minutes down the road.  Other than that I'm going to snuggle down with hot tea, cats and a good book. 

Yesterday was Dad's birthday.

I'm amazed at the things I remember.  Whenever Dad was going out I would always ask 'Where are you going?', the answer was either 'Going to see Old Nick the Bottlewasher' or 'To see a man about a dog'.  I don't know how many years I waited for a dog!!  And I always worried about Old Nick, I just couldn't imagine somebody who washed bottles!

Photos of Dad.

with Mom, Hisao and me

very young Dad and Mom

with Christopher

and Mikey

Hannah

baby Mikey

Dad and Mom's wedding

with David

Another Outing For Hannah

 Last week Hannah had another outing with her university.  This time to a small museum about a man who stopped the city flooding.  This was in the Edo period, Hannah thinks in the 1700s. The city is on a flat plain and every year it would flood.  By changing the course of a river the floods stopped.  He was considered a hero by the local people. But people who were living in the next prefecture really hated him as diverting the river caused their area to flood!

I tried to find more information but couldn't find anything in English.  I'll ask my student next week, she is studying Japanese history at university and has a wealth of knowledge.

Hannah took a load of photos.  Again, it looks like a nice place to visit.  I'm making a list of all these places I want to go to!!

Models showing the course of the river

the river and an explanation

some memorial

a place to rest 

no cats this time, ducks

Hannah doesn't have any outings this week which is good as the forecast is for snow!!!