Happy Birthday To Me

Last Friday was my 51st birthday.  I really can't get my head round being 51.  Where did the years go to?  One thing I have realised that I have to live my life now.  Hubby always talked about doing things later, he never got that later.  So I am trying to live in the now, be more aware of things around me.  I am learning a lot from Connie (her blog is listed as midlife in japan, she has changed the title of her blog but I didn't change the link).
Her one of her recent posts she was saying how the cicadas cry has finished, I never noticed until I read that!   Now I try and take time to listen and look at things!  Thanks Connie!
My kids were really sweet for my birthday.  They cleaned up and cooked lunch. David biked to the DVD store and got a couple of movies.  Christopher bought me a cup!  I had a nice relaxing day which is what I really wanted!

And we got rain, lots of rain.  I am so happy that it rained, I am also happy that it was a bit cooler for a few days.  Today will hot, up 35C not as bad as last week!  I'm a bit worried about Christopher, his started back to school this week.  The whole week is dedicated to field day practice, not a good idea in this heat!

I want rain

It is official, I cannot take this heat any more. I am going crazy here.  Yesterday I had to go to the City Hall, it 10 minute walk from the house. I've done this walk many times but yesterday it was killing. I went at 10:30 but it was already 35C.  The high was 38C.  It has been 33C plus for the past 3 weeks and 30 something for at least 6 weeks.  I CAN'T TAKE ANYMORE.  I want cool nights so I can sleep properly, not waking up every couple of hours in sweat!  I want cool afternoons so that I don't have to run the air conditioner just to survive!!  The forecast is for rain tomorrow, I really hope it comes!!

Got a couple of funny photos to share

Who are you?

Mikey

A place for Hisao's picture

Welcome back Mikey

Mikey got back yesterday from 2 weeks driving school. He has passed his drivers test, the road test at least! He has to take the written test locally as it is prefecture by prefecture.  The written test is not so hard, I'll be glad when we get a car and I can start shopping at the cheaper shops!

The heat here is really getting me down!  Every day is up to at least 35C. We have had very little rain as well but the humidity is so high.  I really hate summers here.  I dream of cool places and long to just go to UK or even Hokkaido!  Today is the last day of my vacation.  Didn't do much but just hanging around watching TV and movies was somehow nice.  I have to think about teaching tomorrow and how to build up our little English school.

Happy Birthday David

Yesterday was David's 19th birthday.  That is so hard to believe, where have 19 years gone to.
I made us a nice lunch,  kimichi beef, miso soup tempura, salad and rice.  All the things David likes. In the evening we had sushi, trifle and cake.  Out of all my kids David is the most Japanese.  He loves Japanese food, especially fish,  I could do fish everyday and he would never gat fed up. 
His presents this year were again very unusual. He never asks for anything unless he really needs something.  He has this wonderful attitude pf being content with what he has.  This year I got him a fan and a desk cover.  Nice and simple!


David with is fan

  My computer is refusing to co-operate this morning and my brain is not doing much better! 

I must be mad

Decided to try out my new steam cleaner on Monday.  The bathroom has a lot of nooks and crannies where mold had built up.  Even using the strong bleach wasn't really getting it off, so in comes the strong arm, steam cleaner.  Not a good idea in 37C heat with 70%humidity.  The result was a nice shinny bathroom and me sweating out at least 2 litres of sweat.  Just to add to my sauna experience I made homemade hamburgers and chips, standing over the hot pans was killing.
Yesterday the kids and I went to Saga City by train.  I had to renew my Aileen Registration Card.  Real pain in the neck but has to be done.  Getting to Saga City was easy enough but from the station to the government office was an awful walk, only about 15 minutes but felt much longer in the heat!  We had a quick lunch then back home. 
When we got back I went to lie down for a while and felt like my body was on fire.  I can't wait for winter!!

This is the sign at the local station saying that something was made in Germany in 1889

At Saga JR station, Hannah is copying the pose

All the kids

A lot of Shopping and a Bit of Gardening

My friend came by yesterday and took me shopping.  I am so grateful to all my dear friends, both in real life and online.  My dear friend who takes me shopping really gets where I'm at.  Her husband passed away 15 years ago. She really understands that even a simple thing as buying a steam cleaner is not that simple.  That's what I bought yesterday.  I had one before but it got dropped and broke.  I've been wanting a new one for ages but kept putting it off. Then last week I noticed a build up of mold that even the strongest bleach wasn't moving and the only thing I could think of to do was buy a steam cleaner,  So we went to a home center store and I stood there looking at the limited choice of steam cleaners, big size or small size.  I stood and thought, thought about what my husband would say ( something along the lines of "lets check online first").  I stood and thought some more, do I really need this? Yes, Can I really afford this?  Kind of if I am a bit more careful with running the air conditioner.  Should I buy it today or wait for another time?   Through all this my friend was quiet, she understood that this was not an easy decision and that I needed time to think things through.  In the end I bought the steam cleaner.  I am very grateful to my friend for driving for me and helping me to buy what I need. 

The bit of gardening was this morning.  I don't really enjoy gardening.  I like it when it looks nice or when we have grown some nice vegetables but the process is hard.  I have a hard time with any kind of insects, anything that creeps or crawls has me screaming my head off, gives the kids a good laugh.  This morning I got up early and went out to cut the front hedge, it has been looking awful.  David came and helped.  So the front looks a lot a better.  The back needs a really good clean up but that will have to wait for another day. 
Mikey is still away on his driving course.  He passed his first test on Friday and will have his drivers test this coming Friday,  I really hopes he passes. We need a car and driver.  I have already planned out where I want to go shopping.  I'm going to need a lot more money!

Too Hot

I am really having a hard time with the heat!! 
It is hot every day and the nights don't get all that cool.  Even now at 7pm it is still 33C.  I am running the air conditioner in the main room but the other rooms are unbearable. 
And cooking is killing. The kitchen is part of the main room but the air conditioner doesn't reach that far.  I am trying to make things that are healthy and cooling.  The kids seem to have appetite, I don't.  I am happy with toast and fruits but the kids want meat or fish.  So I try to cook something.  Shopping is also hard.  I get somethings from the Co-op delivery service but with the kids on summer holidays I have to prepare two full meals a day.  Today I bought sushi for dinner, with some salad and rice balls it filled the kids up.  I have a load of fruit and some snack bread for a bit later when the kids start with "I'm hungry" 
All I want to do is sleep, is this normal?  I am so tired all the time.  Even the most basic of chores seems to exhaust me.  I am hoping that once the weather cools down this will pass!!  I have too much to do!

August

I can't believe that the first week of August has past. Time really flies.
The last weekend of July Christopher got really sick.  39C fever for 24 hours.  Nothing I could do broke his fever, so off to the doctor.   Turns out that he had a virus of some kind.  Doped up with medicine he returned to your usual self.  Wish I was so lucky!  I have had the most awful summer cold for the past week.  At the moment my ears are blocked and driving me crazy.
Summer holidays are well under way.  We went to a mall last week.  Treated ourselves to an all you can eat buffet.  Lots of laughs, lots of fun!  Mikey bought himself some nice clothes and sandles.  he has been away since last Saturday at a driving school.  I really hope he passes his test as we need a driver!
Kids are watching some daft ghost programme on TV,   I guess Hannah won't go upstairs by herself.