Outside

 Recently, we haven't done anything outside. 

When we have time, the weather has been bad, but when everyone is busy, the weather is nice!

Today, I pushed to go out and pull up a few weeds. I only did about 10 minutes as I still feel really rough. I think the allergies I've been down with became a cold. Or I caught a cold on top of allergies. Not sure, all I know is that my throat is sore, I have a headache, and I feel like just staying in bed all the time. I thought a few minutes out in the fresh air and sun would help. 

I'm tired now, but am glad I tried.

David and Christopher are doing a bit more.

David decided to cut down some of the trees that are growing next to the storage place. The trees were leaning on the storage place, not good at all. The storage is old, built in the 1960s, it's been through a lot of typhoons and earthquakes, I'm not sure how strong it is now!

David up the ladder

I'm glad that David can do these jobs, as I know I would never be able to climb a ladder like that!

I have lunch to make, so I should get off my computer!!

Not Sure....

 If there is more crime in Japan or if I'm seeing more Japanese news on YouTube!

The past 10 days, there have been 3 separate incidents that have caught the media's attention.

The first was on May 1st, when a 28-year-old man drove a car into a group of elementary children. The group of 7 children were 2nd and 3rd-grade kids.  Fortunately, none were seriously injured. According to the press, one girl had a broken jaw, the others were cut and bruised. Even so, it must be traumatizing for the kids and their families!  The young man who did this said that he was "fed up with everything" and wanted to kill someone!

Another incident, also involving a school, occurred this week when two men went into an elementary school and attacked staff. Again, no life-threatening injuries, but the two men attacked two teachers in front of a class of 2nd graders.  The whole incident was rather bizarre. That morning one mother went to speak to a teacher about something, the press didn't say what the problem was, the mother wasn't happy with the conclusion of the talk and asked one of these men to go to the school, the older man, in his 40's bought a younger man with him. One of them was carrying a green bottle. 

The same day, a man wielding a large knife was arrested on the Tokyo metro for attempted murder. He apparently attacked a young student on the head before being tackled by a police officer and a Nepalese man on the train. The Nepalese man suffered minor cuts on his hand. 

I'm shocked at these incidents. I know that crime exists in Japan, but it is a safe country. I always felt that in Japan, natural disasters were a big problem, not people.

I think one problem that Japan is facing is the lack of mental health awareness. Even though Japan has universal health care, mental health care is not talked about. It is still stigmatised in Japan; there are very few counselors or mental health workers. I know when my kids were in school, there was just one school counselor for five schools, but bullying and suicide were very high!

Seeking help for depression or anxiety isn't done; there is still a stigma to these problems, especially for men.

I don't know if the people in these news articles have mental health problems, maybe the first guy, but I have seen a tendency in recent years where people who commit violent crimes state that they have had enough. These are the ones that are making headlines; there is an increase in domestic violence and school/workplace bullying. Suicide is also very high among all age groups.

I have no answers. I wish I did. I suffer from depression, but as I've gotten older, I have found what works for me. I don't feel sad, but when I start to feel down, I lose energy and don't want to do anything, even the things I like to do. I've found that finding one thing I can do, such as reading a book or cleaning a small place, helps to move me forward. As I gain momentum, I can pull myself out of my depression. It's not easy, but I can manage. Part of writing this blog is to help with my depression. 

I hope that these incidents are just a blip on the social radar and that Japan will return to being a safe country, where the biggest threat is the possibility of an earthquake!

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Misery Loves Company

 I've felt miserable for the past week or so!

My seasonal allergies are extreme. Mikey is down as well today but he says it feels more like a cold. So maybe I have both, a cold and allergies. All I want to do is sleep!  I planned on making dinner but I really don't feel like cooking or eating!

Then just to add to my misery and stress I got a letter from the city hall about the land tax that we have to pay!  It's a lot more than I thought it was, the full amount is 10,3194 yen, about £536. Not a lot but more than I have. Looks like going to the city hall tomorrow and seeing if it can be divided into monthly payments! 

Problem is that my income just covers my national insurance. David is paying for everything else, which isn't fair on him. Mikey needs to save for a new car and to move out. Christopher isn't working, he's looking but there isn't anything near here at all! 

One good thing is that a friend bought me a flag for the front of the yard.

My new flag

There's a pole and stand as well. I'm really moved by this. This friend was my acupuncturist many years ago, we reconnected through Facebook.  I was surprised when he said that he had bought this to help me!  This simple act has restored my faith in people!! 

I'll have to get the front cleaned out more before I can put this flag up! David cut down some of the trees last week but he has hives on his face, looks like he is allergic to something but he doesn't know what!

I'm going to sleep again, I need to get over this cold/allergies as soon as possible as I have so much to do. I want to start teaching by June! So just three weeks but a lot to do!!!!

Goodbye Hannah

 Hannah spent the Golden Week holiday here. It was nice to have her home for a few days, but she has classes from tomorrow, so she had to leave early. I hoped she could stay until the weekend.

I had great plans; I thought we could go somewhere, watch movies together, and just hang out. But, as usual, plans and reality didn't match up. 

Mikey and I picked her up on Saturday. I took her shopping for her birthday.

On Sunday, she spent most of the day doing research for her course. We had a nice birthday lunch, but other than that she was on her computer. Monday, I took her grocery shopping, but both of us were feeling unwell. Most of yesterday and today was spent in bed!  I really don't know if it's allergies or a cold that we have!  I suggested to Hannah that she go and see the campus nurse and ask what medicine is good and where a local clinic is.  

Even though I feel awful, I've had a nice few days. Just watching TV and reading. The only chores I did were cooking and doing the dishes.  I gave myself permission not to clean or worry about things being a mess. I really needed a couple of down days! 

I was feeling good about not worrying about the mess in the house until Google Photos made a memory of similar shots.

What's similar?

These are from the old house. I was wondering what's similar, the fact that they all have cats in them, but most of my photos have cats in them. I think the theme is the mess in the rooms!  The house we are in now isn't that bad, but if I don't do something every day, it gets to be like that.  

From tomorrow it's back to work, teaching and cleaning. Also I need to focus on setting up the classroom and get some flyers posted! Busy time ahead!

Golden Week

 Golden Week is a series of national holidays that run consecutively at the beginning of May. The odd one is April 29, Showa Day.  The other holidays are Constitution Day, Greenery Day, and Children's Day,  during the first week of May. Some companies give the few days between Showa Day and the other days, making it a nice long holiday.  Even though most companies have a paid leave system, many workers don't take the holidays. I think things are changing, but older people rarely took holidays!

I like having these few days off, but I refuse to go out as everywhere is busy!  Even shopping is a nightmare! When I was teaching full-time, I would take advantage of these few days to finish spring cleaning, prepare lessons for the next couple of months, and spend time with my kids!

Now it's a chance to binge-watch TV and read a few books without thinking that I should be doing something useful!!!

I'm not sure why, but recently, YouTube has been showing me Japanese news.   I can't understand everything, but most of what has happened I can catch.  

Yesterday, I watched a news segment about the main Shinkansen (bullet train) between Tokyo and Osaka. There was a power outage that stopped the train from running for about two hours. This was on Wednesday, the day after the first Golden Week holiday. The trains were packed, stations were overrun with passengers trying to get places. There were public announcements about the stoppage, but no reason was given. A few people managed to find alternative modes of transport or got an extra night at local hotels, but most just waited for the trains to resume operation. After a couple of hours, it was announced that a snake had gotten into the electrical wiring, causing it to short out and stop the trains. I know that for the people being stuck on the trains or in the stations, it wasn't a nice experience, but all I could think was only in Japan!  

Today we had a nice birthday lunch for Hannah. Sushi and karage (Japanese fried chicken), stuff for sandwiches, and salad. We have a cake for later, and I'm making a trifle! It was nice to have everyone here, just to chat and catch up!

Unfortunately, both Hannah and I are a bit down. Hannah has a sore throat, and my allergies are extremely bad!

Never mind, this too shall pass!

Our lunch today!

Lots of nice food

Fred took to guarding the sushi when David bought it this morning.

Fred on guard duty!

Feeling Nostalgic

 Today is Hannah's birthday!

That's had me going down memory lane!

My tiny, premature baby, who was given just a 30% chance of living, is now 23!  Time really does fly!

I've been looking at photos today. 

With Dad, about 8 months old

Hisao really doted on her. 

With Granddad and Grandma

There are only a few photos of Mom with Hannah. About a year later, Mom passed away. I'm glad that Mom got to meet Hannah!

outing for Hannah's birthday

Hannah's birthday is a day before Golden Week, which is one of the main holidays in Japan. There are four national holidays, and sometimes they run consecutively, making it a nice, long holiday.  The problem is that everywhere is packed. With Hannah's birthday falling just before meant that most places weren't that busy. Good chance to go out before the crowds start.

playing Cinderella

With Dad, just a year before he passed away

I'm constantly amazed at how well all of my kids have turned out after losing their Dad so young! Mikey was just 20, David 18, Christopher 14, and Hannah 10!  I know my family is not unique in losing a parent when they are young, but the fact that they pulled together, supported each other, and me, they didn't internalize their grief or let it become a bitter anger, always amazes me. We talk about Hisao almost every day. He is still part of this family, always will be!

Graduation from elementary school

2nd visit to England

,

Starting high school

Starting university

graduation from university

Now all grown up!

She is coming to visit tomorrow. It'll be nice to visit with her for a while. I think she enjoys living at the apartment, but the idea of someone else cooking, cleaning, and doing your laundry for a few days is nice!

I managed to get outside this morning!  Pulled some weeds, Christopher helped. David and Mikey attacked some of the trees. 

before

After this is the front of the property

Found some more lovely flowers, I don't know what they are.

lovely flowers

I know that pulling weeds is going to be never-ending. But seeing an area cleaned gives me hope that we are getting somewhere, even if it's slow going!

April

 I really thought I had one more day in April! I was shocked when I checked my phone this morning and found that it's May 1st. 

So April turned out to be a rather interesting month.

Hannah has started her graduate course. She seems to be doing all right. She has to figure out what to do for her thesis. She's interested in why kids don't get some of the grammar points. Is it bad teaching, bad explanation in the textbooks, or just that the kids aren't interested in the language? She says that because she didn't have to learn English as a second language, she doesn't understand why it's so difficult. To try and understand how hard it is to learn another language, she is studying German on the Duolingo app. Her biggest challenge is spelling!  I'm glad that she is settled into her course and enjoying it. 

I hoped we would have some of the garden cleared and ready to plant something, but still struggling on that front!  The weather has refused to cooperate. When we have time, it rains, when every one is busy with work the weather is nice! I'm determined to get it done!

just in front of the window

We got this bit done!  I want to move those stones, but they are very deep!

Cleaning in front of the door has helped. I still need to get the old insect nests down and wash the door but it looks a lot better.

Today I did a deep clean of the dining area, moved the tiled carpet to vacuum underneath, and wiped the corners. Feels a lot better.

The decision to set up a classroom here was the big thing for April. I really didn't want to do that, but I can't see any other way to make money. I know we have the land and I want to do something with that, but I think it will take some time. If I can make enough to free David from working 5 nights a week, then he can do more on the land with Christopher. I realized we need money now, especially to fix the toilet. Teaching is the one thing I know. I hope we can get students!

My goal for May is to set up my classroom and distribute leaflets. I hope to be teaching by June! I need to be more mindful in my eating, my weight is still up so I need to be more careful. 

Also, I want to sort out the storage area and get more done outside. It's the last month that I can spend a lot of time outside, once the heat and humidity start, I'm finished outside!

Wish me luck, a lot to do!