Beginning of July

In Japan we have a rainy season.  Usually about two weeks toward the end of June where rain is constant but gentle, just drizzling everyday.  The past few years this has changed to torrential rain for about two weeks at the beginning of July.  Last Saturday an area about 2 hours drive south of here was hit very bad, rivers flooded, landslides and threats of landslides.  I felt sorry for the people affected but glad we didn't get hit.

These were typical scenes. 

Last Sunday the rain had moved north.  We got hit very bad.  Hannah's school closed early on Monday and almost all schools in the area were closed on Tuesday.  Where we live is safe as the house is built about a meter up from the road and there are no rivers or mountains nearby.  But watching the news was distressing seeing places that I know under water.  I felt sorry for people who had to leave their homes because of floods or landslides.  Most schools are the evacuation places but how to  keep people safe from the coronavirus as well as the floods.  The centers are set up to try and keep social distancing but it's going to be hard.

We've also had a lot of thunderstorms, some very close which weren't nice, the cats go into hiding!

hiding from the storm

A few photos of Lucky!  She was such a funny dog.  I miss her, the house feels empty now!

Lucky

Sad post ahead!

Our lovely Labrador dog, Lucky, lost her battle with cancer Tuesday night.

We didn't even know she was sick.  She had slowed down over the past week, but I thought that was more because of her age (12 years old, which is 89 for labs) and the heat.  Monday night she vomited everywhere.  Christopher moved her, gave her fresh water, left her in a cool place.  Checked on her in the morning, she seemed okay but kind of sleepy.  In the evening when he went to walk her she couldn't stand up.  We took her to the emergency vets. He found that she had cancer.  The vet said that even if we do nothing she won't make it through the night and she was in pain, even though she wasn't crying or making a fuss.  We decided that the kindest thing to do was to have her put to sleep.  We stayed with her, talked to her, held her as she slipped away. Heartbreaking to say the least.  She was a lovely dog. The regular vet that we took her to was amazed at how friendly she was, she didn't snap at the staff but gave them wet kisses!  She helped Christopher a lot when my husband died, he would take her for long walks, giving him the space and time he needed to deal with his grief.  I use to talk to her a lot as well.  She was scared of thunder storms, one lasting memory I have is Hannah, Lucky and I sitting in the corridor during a really bad storm, all 3 of us crying!  

I hope she happy and at peace over the rainbow bridge!

When we first got her

couple of months ago

Rainy Season

It's that time of year!  Japan has a rainy season every year and I really hate it!

It is constant rain for 2 or 3 weeks, throw in a few thunderstorms for fun and the occasional flood and it adds up to stress.  Even when it stops raining the humidity is really high.  Plus it is hot.  Cooking and washing dishes I feel like I'm in a sauna. I remind myself that people pay good money to sit in a sauna so I should be grateful to get it for free!  It makes going out difficult as I sweat a lot and feel uncomfortable around people.  Most years I spend most of summer inside with the air conditioner on. I try go out more in the other seasons but this year we had the lockdown during the time I usually go out.  All I can say is that I am grateful for the internet and streaming TV services, otherwise I would be going mad!

Hannah was getting ready for school the other morning when the little black kitten decided to jump in her school bag!!

She wanted to take him but I don't think the teachers would be to happy!

Had better go and start dinner, yep time for another sauna!!

Hisao:s Birthday and a Long Drive.

Sunday would of been Hisao's 59th birthday.  That is hard to believe, in my minds eye I always see him as younger!  We didn't do much to celebrate as Mikey and I drove to

visit David at his base, Christopher and Hannah wouldn't be allowed on the base. Nice drive but very long!  We got there early so had a walk around the town, rather nice area, very touristy.  Found a cat shop where everything has a cat motif, opposite was a similar shop with everything dogs.

Saw David. He has lost weight and still on crutches from stress fractures on his knees! He has been so stressed but seemed okay, happy to chat!

On the way back stopped at a rather interesting museum. Motor cycles and cars were the main exhibits but there was a large selection of things from the 1950's '60's. Very interesting!

Some photos

About 10 years ago

Trying to take a family photo

Some photos from last weeks drive

Miffy styled café and bakery

Beautiful view

Jars of Air, last air from the last emperors time, first air from present emperor

Window from the Spencer family, Princess Diana's family

Very Expensive Bike, over a million pounds

Train outside the museum

• I would love to visit this area again, but not in the summer!

Disaster!

Woke up at 4am, basically too hot and the cats making a noise. Went to the toilet and noticed some water on the floor.  Nothing unusual about that, our toilet has  a spout and sink shape top on the tank so people can rinse their hands, sometimes that spills out. I thought nothing more of it!  As I had to be up at 4:30 I decided to stay downstairs.  In the living room I found the cats staring at this massive cockroach, I got brave and sprayed it, which knocked it on the floor, the cats attacked.  I actually felt sorry for the cockroach, a bit!  At 4:30 Christopher comes down, goes to the toilet, I can here him cussing, he comes in "Mom the cats have peed on the toilet mat", I told him to throw it in the bathtub so I can soak it and wash it out.  At 5am Hannah comes down, goes off to the toilet, comes running back in and asks if she can pee in the shower. I want to know why, went to the toilet and there is a good inch of water on the floor, it has flowed out onto the wooden floors in the corridor.  Time to panic! Got Mikey to call an emergency plumbing company, but all there plumbers were out on calls.  Mikey decided to see if he could at least slow down the leak, it was coming from where the pipe leads into the tank.  Mikey marched off with a screw drive and no idea, I'm thinking not a good idea, both Hannah and Christopher told Mikey to wait.  All I could here were screams and cussing from Mikey, what had been a slow tickle was now a deluge! Mikey looked like he had a shower with his clothes on! The only thing to do was turn off the water!  Big problem with that was I hadn't made Hannah's breakfast or lunch box.  Solution was going to a convenience store on the way to school. Plus I was desperate for the toilet!

One good thing about all this was Hannah had a good laugh before school. She has some tests today and was rather stressed last night.  This early morning adventure gave her a good laugh before school.

The plumber has just left, took an hour to fix and costs about 100 pounds but I have my toilet back and the water turned on!

An Interesting Find

Christopher was walking to the local shop this morning when heard a strange noise from a tunnel that goes under a walking bridge.  He found this animal,  maybe mama and babies.  We are trying to decide what it is.

Anybody know what this is?

The other interesting animals are our cats!  We got flea medicine for them, you have to put a drop on their necks.  You would think we were torturing them!  Fred, our gray cat, then decided to lick another cat and got the treatment in his mouth.  He spent the evening gagging and drooling all over the place.  He drank a load of water and seems okay.

Cute photos,

Two gray cats, same pose

Two black cats, curled up together

Fred comfy on the towels

Hannah with her army teddy that David sent

May!!!

This has been a very busy month!
A lot of students took time off because of the corona virus so I used
the time to clean.  Also we are still working on my mother in law's house.
I never realized how much stuff I had stored there.  We have almost finished the storage
area and can start on the main house.  One big problem is the clothes that my
mother in law collected.  I am finding clothes that still have tags on, never worn.
We took a few to a recycle shop and good about 10 pounds for them, not
bad, paid for lunch!
I've been suffering with a bad knee.  So painful.  Been to the doctors a couple of times,
I just get told to lose weight, which I am trying but being unable to walk makes
it more difficult.  Got some stronger pain killers, which I hope helps.  I need to be
more active!

Christopher has been learning how to cook.  He makes a nice chicken rice dish and
a bacon with 3 types of mushrooms topped with cheese!  Very nice!

Chicken Rice with Omelet

Bacon with 3 Types of Mushrooms and Cheese

I am not looking forward to next month.  Japanese rainy season, lots of rain, high humidity and
everything feels damp!

`